November/December 2016

Hala-Leujah: The Old Hawaiian Art of Weaving Lau Hala

Not too many years ago, the late and beloved Auntie Elizabeth Lee (1929 – 2016) would frequently be found at Kings’ Shops and Queens’ MarketPlace, interacting with visitors while teaching them how to make lovely Hawaiian bracelets from the dried leaves of the hala (pandanus) trees that can be found in several prominent locales around Waikoloa Beach Resort and Hawai`i Island. The craft of lauhala plaiting (the term is technically more accurate than “weaving”) is an ancient one in Hawai`i, and Auntie Elizabeth was one of the people most important to its survival into modern times.

In an interview shortly after Auntie’s passing this past August, Barbara Kossow, who was a friend of Auntie and assisted her in her later years, said: “(Lauhala plaiting) was a dying art. She wanted to revive the weaving and get people interested again. Auntie Elizabeth was very generous with her knowledge. She loved teaching people to weave lauhala and she opened up her teaching to everyone.”

November/December 2016

Multi-Purpose Tree

Guests will spot the hala tree commonly at Waikoloa Beach Resort, where it was specifically planted to draw attention to its significance in the Hawaiian culture. Along Waikoloa Beach Drive near Waikoloa Bowl, for example, some magnificent hala trees are seen, and inside Waikoloa Bowl itself others stand in healthy splendor. At the Kings’ Golf Course, a large hala tree dominates the entranceway to the clubhouse and several are seen on the first and 18th holes of the Kings’ Course.

The trees can grow as high as 20 – 30 feet, and are easily identified by the tangled roots that shoot upward out of the ground. Found throughout the Pacific, it is speculated that the tree found its own way to the Hawaiian Islands, as the seeds float. The fronds have long, spinyedged leaves, and the female tree produces a pineapple-looking fruit.

The hala tree was very important to the old Hawaiians, with every part of it used in some fashion. The fruit was eaten, used for medicinal purposes, added as decorative lei adornment, and dried segments were used as a brush to paint on tapa. The wood of the tree was used as building support material and calabashes.

The woven leaves, lau, were used for many practical purposes, including canoe sails, wall thatching, roofing material, and floor mats. Guests can stand under the canopy of a tree today and see what an effective shelter the leaves make from the elements.

In plantation days, lauhala crafters made hats to shield workers from the sun, and baskets in which to carry coffee cherries and other crops. Every family had its weavers, and each weaver had a signature style. The knowledge and technique was passed from generation to generation, and the keiki would often start learning at an early age. But as trade with the Western world picked up and new materials and goods such as leather and cloth were introduced to the islands, by the middle part of the 20th century, the art of lauhala plaiting — as were other important cultural traditions in Hawai`i such as hula and even the Hawaiian language — was dying out.

November/December 2016

A Renaissance Of Art

Thankfully, in the late 1980s and 1990s, a new pride in Hawaiian traditions arose, and with it a new emphasis on the arts and crafts. In 1993, Auntie Elizabeth was named a Living Treasure by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for her contributions to weaving. (Auntie was also instrumental in resurrecting the art of weaving makaloa, a reed that grows along the seashore, but which no one had used in weaving in 200 years.)

In addition to bringing pleasure to innumerous guests and visitors at Waikoloa Beach Resort, Auntie’s influence can still be felt through the many students she taught — many of whom have become kumu (teachers) in their own right — and the group she cofounded in 1996, Ka Ulu Lauhala o Kona. The group sponsors an annual workshop in Kona in May.

Although the tools used in the craft have evolved, the techniques Auntie taught are very similar to what was practiced in early Hawai‘i. The dried and gathered leaves have their thorny edges removed, pieces are torn into thin strips and cleaned, and a careful process of intertwining begins. Only today, instead of sails and roof thatching, modern weavers craft hats, purses, baskets, and placemats, much of it for collectors and an eager tourism market. “I love it,” Pohaku Kaho‘ohanohano, a master weaver and teacher of the craft on Maui, told Maui No Ka Oi Magazine in a 2013 interview, “because it’s part of my culture. I’m doing what my ancestors did. This is survival for me. It’s in my blood.”

Auntie Elizabeth would wholeheartedly agree. “Take care of the knowledge,” she said to her students in her last days. She can rest assured it is in good hands.

September/October 2016

Winging It - Avian Friends at Waikoloa Beach Resort and Beyond

The annual migration of the Humpback whale is celebrated in the Hawaiian Islands, and sightings are reported on the nightly news when the big mammals begin to arrive in local waters each fall. The Pacific Golden Plover (kolea in Hawaiian) makes the same migration between Hawai`i and Alaska each year, heading north in spring and south in fall. Though they are not rock stars like the Humpbacks, their journey is perhaps even more amazing, as they wing their way thousands of miles without any land on which to stop, rest, and refuel.

Shoreline and Golf Course Birds

“The Pacific Golden Plover is quite a remarkable bird,” says Lance Tanino, founder of Manu Conservation Birding and Nature Tours and one of the leading birding experts in Hawai`i. “They fly nonstop for three or four days to nest in the tundra of Alaska, and make the return trip to Hawai`i starting around August. The adults come first with the juvenile birds following shortly thereafter.”

Seen regularly around the waterfront areas and golf courses of Waikoloa Beach Resort, Tanino says the Pacific Golden Plover (pictured left) is one of the few native species to have thrived after human contact, as the clearing of the underbrush near the beaches and the ponds and grassy areas of the golf courses make excellent habitat for these birds.

Another frequent visitor to Waikoloa’s golfing greens is Hawai`i’s state bird, the Nēnē Goose. A year-round resident in the islands, the Nēnē is still considered an endangered species, but their population has increased significantly since the 1940s when — due to relentless human hunting and the introduction of mongooses and feral cats to the state — they were effectively extinct in the wilds, and estimates put the number of birds at fewer than 10. A captive breeding program centered on Hawai`i Island, coupled with another breeding program in England, managed to rescue the Nēnē from extinction, and by the late 1970s there were more than 2,000 of the distinctive geese with deeply furrowed neck feathers in captivity and ready to be released into the wild once again.

“They are doing better with the extensive protection by the federal and local authorities,” Tanino says, “and they love the short grass of the golf courses.” But Tanino also points out that golfers need to understand that the Nēnē are sometimes territorial and they should avoid contact with them or their chicks.

Another unique bird that guests at Waikoloa Beach Resort will also observe is the Black-crowned Night Heron (‘auku’u), a non-endangered resident bird that likes to sit on tree snags or stalk the lava rocks above the tidepools looking for fish. With its long legs and sturdy gray body, this bird appears almost hunched as it patiently and quietly goes about its business of catching fish.

“Interestingly” says Tanino, “the Black-crowned Night Heron has learned to attract fish using bread. It’ll drop the bread in the water and wait for fish to come take the bait.”

Keen-eyed birders can also spot the Ruddy Turnstone (‘akekeke), the Sanderling (huna kai, literally translated as “sea foam”), and the Wandering Tattler (‘ulili), all migrating visitors to Hawai`i’s shores. And if you’re really lucky, on the deserted stretches of sand south of Lava Lava Beach Club, you may catch sight of the elusive Bristle-thighed Curlew (kioea, named for the loud whistling sound it makes), a long-billed bird that prefers solitude as it molts all of its flight feathers before migration and is flightless and vulnerable to predators for a period of time.

September/October 2016

Upcountry Birds

In the cattle grazing lands and ranches further upcountry from Waikoloa Beach Resort and Waikoloa Village, the pueo, or Short-eared Owl, is frequently seen at dawn and dusk. Whether sitting on a fencepost, gliding on a breeze, or gracefully winging in wide circles hunting for mice in the tall grasses, the pueo is instantly recognizable. They are often spotted on the old Saddle Road near Waiki’i Ranch, their white faces and brilliant yellow-green eyes glaring back as you slow your car to take a picture.

The pueo plays a special role in Hawaiian mythology, and is considered an ‘aumakua, a spirit guardian, by many families in the islands.

It is always amusing to see a tall, slender white bird standing on the back of a horse or cow. These are Cattle Egrets, common in the green ranchlands of Hawai`i Island’s upcountry. Originally from Africa, these birds were brought to Hawai`i in 1959 specifically to control the insect population, a job they do very well.

Other birds commonly spied in the middle elevations of Hawai`i Island are several species of Francolin Quail, wild turkey, California Quail, the Kalij Pheasant, and Ring-necked Pheasant, all introduced for sport hunting in previous centuries. Common songbirds include the lovely Saffron Finch, and the bright red Northern Cardinal.

If you are a dedicated birder, you might want to check out the new Palila Forest Discovery Trail, recently opened on the western slope of Mauna Kea mountain by the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The trail is accessed from the Kilohana Hunter Station checkin area off the old Saddle Road. A four-mile 4-wheel-drive road leads to the trailhead, and from there signage points you to a mile-long hike through old-growth sandalwood trees and a yellow-flowered māmane forest to a habitat where the Palila, as well as several other species of birds, can be seen and heard.

Significant because the Palila are the last of the finch-billed honeycreepers found in the state, these highly endangered birds sport yellow head and chest feathers. Their numbers have been decreasing in recent years due to extended drought, invasive species, and habitat degradation. Only about 2,000 birds remain, all in this unique habitat on the slopes of Mauna Kea.

September/October 2016

Malibu Shirts

In the timeless, “Endless Summer” of vintage surf culture and Hawaiiana, some things never grow old. Malibu Shirts, the latest member of the Queens’ MarketPlace family of shops, is a flashback to a golden-oldie era, bringing favorite old school logos and imagery to casual retro fashion.

Malibu Shirts creates what they call “highend garments inspired by history, resulting in comfortable clothes with stories to tell.” Along with tees and hoodies, they also offer hats, stickers, vintage posters, metal signs and more, featuring the memorable designs of Primo, Pan Am, TWA, Airstream, The Monkees (who played their first concert in Hawai`i), the Grateful Dead, classic drive-ins, hotels, surf clubs, and steamships.

The first Malibu Shirt was printed in 2004 — for Malibu Surf Club, a small but dedicated group of surfers such as Les Williams. Today, they operate three shops on Oahu and two on Maui. The Queens’ MarketPlace location, which opened July 2, is their sixth store, the first on Hawai`i Island.

September/October 2016

COMING ATTRACTION! Waikoloa Luxury Cinemas

Queens’ MarketPlace will light up island nightlife with the highly-anticipated Waikoloa Luxury Cinemas, an upscale, three-screen movie venue with full-service restaurant and bar. When the curtain goes up in the spring of 2017, movie-lovers will be able to kick back in a cushy leather seat, order a glass of wine and enjoy a first-run feature.

Guests will enter a spacious, contemporary lobby, with a bar and comfy furnishings, including an actual sample of the theaters’ leather loveseats to “test drive.” A 25-foot passageway of glass doors leads into a 5,000-square-foot outdoor lanai lounge, available to everyone, movie patron or not.

Three exclusive auditoriums, outfitted with cutting-edge sound and projection equipment, seat 85-100 people each, the largest offering Real 3-D technology. Food and beverages — from popcorn and sodas to gourmet snacks, pizza, and cocktails — may be purchased prior to the show, or ordered for delivery to your loveseat.

“The luxury cinema concept has proven to be quite a hit on the Mainland,” says Waikoloa Luxury Cinemas owner Tony Dalzell. “So we decided that would be our business model here.”

With an MBA and extensive experience in consumer marketing, primarily in the financial services industry in California, Dalzell was also owner-operator of Marina WaterSports, Inc., California’s largest watercraft and parasailing attraction. Assisting Waikoloa Luxury Cinemas is theater consultant Scott Stalcup, who has overseen more than 100 projects for AMC Theaters.

Since most of North Hawai‘i gets its movie fix in Kona or Honoka‘a — or from Netflix on their home sofa — Waikoloa Luxury Cinemas is a date night waiting to happen. The Dalzells easily saw the success potential of adding a theater to Waikoloa Beach Resort nightlife.

“It’s no secret that, after dark, one’s entertainment options around here are pretty limited,” said Dalzell, who moved to the island earlier this year with wife Maria, after visiting annually for two decades. “Retirement was an option, but we both wanted something to do. We’re happy that it ended up being something that’s a contribution to our new community.”

In addition to films, Waikoloa Luxury Cinemas will be available for rentals, concerts, and live performances. It also offers a potential boon for neighboring businesses, and will be providing about 45 new jobs in the community.

July/August 2016

Foodies take note! The annual Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival (HFWF) will return to the Big Island on Saturday, October 22, with a signature event, “Hot Lava, Hotter Cuisine.” The dinner will be held at Hilton Waikoloa Village in partnership with the Waikoloa Beach Resort and Waikoloa Beach Marriott.

The theme, according to HFWF’s executive director Denise Yamaguchi, “was something we came up with that would define the level of the talent coming to Hawai`i Island. It’s a play on words. Everyone knows that lava is hot, and we wanted to express that the cuisine created by these chefs will be even hotter.”

Yamaguchi points out that four of the six chefs cooking have won James Beard Awards and a fifth chef from Korea was 27th in Asia’s Fifty Best Restaurants 2016. “What could be hotter than that?” she asks.

July/August 2016

Year-Round & Worldwide

The addition of Chef Ryu from South Korea to this year’s lineup is telling, as it represents an expansion that the Festival has envisioned from the beginning. “From the very start, our vision for the Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival was to build a world-class food and wine festival,” Yamaguchi says. “This meant inviting and attracting the best chefs and winemakers to produce the highest quality event that would be comparable to some of our nation’s best food and wine events. After six years, I am proud that we may be able to consider ourselves among the best, having earned a reputation for quality, integrity, and magnitude.

“It was also our vision to include world-class international chefs from Asia in our Festival — something that differentiates us from other festivals across the U.S.,” Yamaguchi says. “Being in the middle of the Pacific, this just made sense for us. It was to bridge relationships between chefs from the East with the West.”

In addition to bridging relationships, Chef Ryu is certain to dazzle Hawai`i Island festival-goers with his world-class cuisine. “Tae is quite a culinarian,” says HFWF co-founder (and Denise’s husband) Roy Yamaguchi. “He is creative and passionate about his cooking. His plates are attentive to detail. He utilizes his skills of modern gastronomy. His food is Michelin-caliber and I can’t wait to see what he’ll create for our festival.”

The Yamaguchis, along with HFWF’s other co-founder, Alan Wong, were recently in South Korea, where they took part in an event on Jeju Island, “Hawaii Meets Jeju,” as part of an outreach program designed to expose contemporary Hawaii cuisine to the world.

“The name Hawai`i is magic to the rest of the world,” Wong says. “We are always warmly received wherever we go. The problem is that the world doesn’t really know about the modern day Hawai`i and the cuisine being served in the state. They continue to think that we put slices of pineapple on hamburgers and pizza and that this is called a Hawaiian hamburger and a Hawaiian pizza.”

Roy Yamaguchi elaborates: “I’ve traveled to over 40 countries through cooking and I’m always welcomed with open arms. People around the world think of Hawai`i as a tropical place of beauty and peace. We’ve really come a long way through food and I think it’s something that we all strive for when we put together Hawai`i Regional Cuisine. As we elevate the level and quality of our food, we’re able to do more to showcase Hawai`i.”

July/August 2016

Only Hawai`i Can Be Hawai`i

Cuisine is one surefire way to relate Hawai`i’s heritage to the world. With new direct flights being planned from Japan and elsewhere in Asia to Hawai`i Island, the work that the Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival is doing will hopefully pay dividends in increased tourism. Sponsors, including Waikoloa Beach Resort and the Hawaii Tourism Authority, are counting on it.

“Hawaii is such a unique place, with multiple cultures all contributing to make us what we are,” says Scott Head, vice president of resort operations for Waikoloa Beach Resort. “And nowhere is this truer than in the food our guests are presented, which continues to evolve into a truly world-inspired, world-class cuisine using fresh and amazing ingredients found right here on our island. We are excited and honored to host the Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival here on Hawai`i Island, and specifically here at our resort.”

“The world will come if we have created experiences you can only have while here in Hawai`i,” says Denise Yamaguchi. “While you can create a food and wine experience about Hawai`i in other places, what’s missing that cannot be replaced is our culture, the generosity and hospitality of our people, and the aloha spirit. Our advantage is authenticity and only Hawai`i can be Hawai`i.”

The good news for Hawai`i Island residents and guests of Waikoloa Beach Resort is that one of the signature events of the 2016 Hawaii Food & Wine Festival is being held right in their own backyard. It’s a hot and hotter opportunity to taste what the rest of the world only dreams of. For more information or to reserve tickets, go to HawaiiFoodandWineFestival.com

July/August 2016

Bob May Golf Academy

For the third year in a row, noted golf instructor Bob May brought his renowned Golf Academy to Waikoloa Beach Resort in June, offering island golfers and visitors a chance to learn from one of golf’s best. May notably pushed Tiger Woods to a three-hole playoff in the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla, during a year in which Woods was at the height of his dominance. The playoff ultimately went to Woods, but the golf world never forgot May’s tenacious play that day. May’s instruction includes an emphasis on that determination and tenacity for which he was so well respected on Tour, as well as his extensive knowledge of the swing. All skill levels took advantage of his Waikoloa Beach Resort visit, from beginning golfers to seasoned players, as well as juniors.

July/August 2016

38th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk

“A tradition of giving. We’re all in this together.”

That was the theme for the 2016 Visitor Industry Charity Walk that was held on Saturday, May 14 at Waikoloa Beach Resort. The annual 3.1-mile run, walk (and snack) event was created by the Hawai`i Lodging and Tourism Association in 1978 as a way for the visitor industry to “walk the walk,” and give back to community.

Since then it has grown into a major fundraiser statewide, generating over $28 million in the last 37 years. In 2015 alone, 11,200 walkers raised over $1.8 million to help local charities, with funds raised on the island remaining on the island to support numerous non-profit groups and noteworthy causes.

Hotel and resort properties from across the island enjoyed the friendly competition of Charity Walk, challenging each other to win the race, bring out the most participants, raise the most money, and serve up the best food. In addition, those chosen as beneficiaries supported the runners and walkers with aid stations along the scenic route from Queen’s MarketPlace to Kings’ Land by Hilton Grand Vacations, and back to Waikoloa Bowl.

“The Visitor Industry Charity Walk is something we in hospitality look forward to every single year,” said Rob Gunthner, Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association- Hawaii Island Chapter Chair. “But it’s not just for hospitality workers ... anyone can participate. We love it when visitors walk along with us, then join us over in the Bowl for some great music, entertainment, and outstanding food by our Waikoloa Beach Resort restaurants.”

Participants of all ages enjoyed the morning exercise and the after-event atmosphere on the expansive lawn of Waikoloa Bowl where 20-plus food stands were found, along with entertainment by DJ Tiger and Beyond Paradise, and a live radio broadcast by DC from B93, Eddy O with Native FM, and more.

May/June 2016

The Waikoloa Nightingale

Of the iconic animals we associate with Hawai`i — humpback whales, pueo, even the beloved gecko — the donkey most likely doesn’t make the list. And while they don’t walk comically upside down on our ceilings, majestically circle the skies, or leap playfully from the ocean, donkeys were integral to the success of Hawai`i Island’s coffee industry in its early days, and hold an important place in the state’s agricultural history.

Still spotted occasionally in the lava fields near Waikoloa Beach Resort and Waikoloa Village, the Waikoloa Nightingales — as they are called for the semi-melodious braying noise they make day and night, distinct from the typical honking of a donkey — are descendants of those working animals that helped coffee farmers get their product to market almost 200 years ago.

May/June 2016

Beast of Burden

“Donkeys first came to Oah‘u as pack animals in 1825,” tells Dr. Brady Bergin, a Waimea based veterinarian who has spearheaded efforts with the Hawai`i Humane Society in recent years to care for and find adoptive homes for the Waikoloa herd. “A few ended up on the Big Island, working the higher elevation coffee farms on the slopes of Hualālai. They’re surefooted and hearty animals, and they can pack more per pound than horses.” The donkeys proved to be invaluable for the coffee farmers for more than 100 years, packing loads of coffee cherries from the rugged mountainside fields down to the drying and roasting facilities around Kona, and from there to the coast where the beans would be shipped to market.

After delivering their payload, the donkeys would be loaded with salt, fish, and other supplies, and the Nightingales would dutifully head back uphill to the farm, sometimes making the round trip by themselves, so familiar were they with the trails and task at hand.

After World War II, with more roads in place and a surplus of Army jeeps available, the donkeys were slowly phased out. According to a chapter on the Waikoloa Nightingales in Dr. Bergin’s forthcoming book, “The Hawaiian Horse” (with Dr. Billy Bergin), “Over the years, many of these working donkeys were released into the wilderness to fend for themselves, which they were more than capable of doing in the lush tropical environment (near Kona).”

How did the donkeys end up nearly 45 miles away in the Waikoloa area?

In 1974, Bergin tells, 30 donkeys were purchased from Hu‘ehu‘e Ranch by the Waikoloa Development Company for the purpose of developing a sort of Western ambiance for this newly established community.

“This new environment suited the donkeys very well. The dry, rocky terrain scattered with kiawe (algaroba) trees and copious amounts of fountain grass provided the most ideal conditions and their most natural habitat. The population steadily grew, and their grazing migration expanded over thousands of acres, well beyond the Waikoloa Village Association land and into neighboring ranches such as Parker Ranch. Without proper management, it wasn’t long before the population was deemed out of control.”

As resort development along the Kohala Coast expanded in these years, and with the opening of Queen Ka‘ahamanu Highway, the donkeys were cut off from their traditional watering holes near the coast. New homes and golf courses were being built too, and the by-now 600 or so free-ranging donkeys came to be regarded as more and more of a nuisance.

May/June 2016

Preserving an Icon

Attempts were made over the years to round up the wandering donkeys and relocate them to an area mauka of Waikoloa Village, where fencing could keep them mostly contained. But after a major fire swept through the area in 2006 and drought conditions became severe, the donkeys would break through fences looking for water and food, often wandering into Waikoloa Village proper. Traffic issues and resident complaints multiplied. In early 2009, one concerned Waikoloa resident, Anika Glass, formed a group called Mālama Waikoloa Nightingales to support humane management of Waikoloa donkey herds.

Glass was also instrumental in bringing the Humane Society of the United States on board to help find a solution. “(Glass) was also instrumental in securing the support of my practice, ‘ ina Hou Animal Hospital,” Dr. Bergin writes. “I was able to donate time, services, and energy to help resolve the donkey overpopulation issues.”

By the summer of 2009, in the midst of historic drought, the feral donkey population reached a tipping point. “A rancher named Stan Boteilho was leasing the land at the time,” Dr. Bergin says, “and he approached me about what to do with the 600 or so donkeys that were roaming the land.”

Dr. Bergin toured the area on ATV with Boteilho and saw firsthand the problems facing the herd, including many weak from dehydration and some seriously injured. “The impact of what I had witnessed struck me to the very core of my animal husbandry upbringing,” he writes. “I knew that I could not simply walk away.”

In November 2010, the Waikoloa Donkey Rescue and Re-homing project officially got off the ground. Boteilho put out food and water and humanely trapped the donkeys, then delivered 70 head to Dr. Bergin at ‘ ina Hou Animal Hospital within a two-day period, where Dr. Bergin would neuter the jacks and prepare the donkeys for adoption. This was the beginning of what would become the largest capture and rehoming of donkeys in Hawai`i.

Nowadays, Bergin says, there are fewer than 100 still on Boteilho’s land, with many having been adopted out to local farmers and ranchers — Hōkūkano Ranch in Kealakekua, for example, took a large number of donkeys to return them to the area they were from originally — and some going to rescue groups in California. Two are at the Honolulu Zoo.

“The long-term goal,” says Bergin, “is to keep 25 or so in a controlled herd on Stan’s land to preserve this historic and unique aspect of Hawai`i Island.”

May/June 2016

Lessons from a Master

For the third year in a row, noted golf instructor Bob May will bring his Golf Academy to Waikoloa Beach Resort. From June 6 - July 5, island golfers and visitors will have a chance to learn from one of golf’s best.

May notably pushed Tiger Woods to a three-hole playoff in the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla, during a year in which Woods was at the height of his dominance. The playoff ultimately went to Woods, but the golf world never forgot May’s tenacious play that day.

Nowadays, May imparts his PGA Tour experience, extensive knowledge of the swing, and his renowned emphasis on focus under pressure to golfers through his Las Vegas-based Academy, and now to golfers on Hawai`i Island.

May’s approach includes both the physical and mental game, for high-handicap players as well as juniors. From fundamentals to finesse, his instruction is inspired by and emphasizes the importance of what he calls “a passion for the game.”

The Bob May Golf Academy at Waikoloa Beach Resort will offer private lessons for adults, juniors, and couples, as well as “Trackman” performance analysis. It’s a unique opportunity to learn from one of the game’s best players and most determined competitors.

May/June 2016

Fishpipe Waikoloa: A Barrel of Fun

Located near the Kona Pool at Hilton Waikoloa Village is the island’s latest, greatest way for kids of all ages to splash around and have fun. It’s called Fishpipe Hawai`i and it’s billed as the “world’s first rotating barrel ride.” Up to three riders at a time are zippered inside the ball, 15 gallons of filtered water is pumped in for every new group, and the Fishpipe begins spinning while the occupants slide around in the bottom having a ball. The riders tell the operator how fast they want to go, so it’s as exciting or safe as you want it to be. The ride lasts for 90 seconds, which is like being on a mile-long water slide! You know you want to!

May/June 2016

Hitting the High Notes

The little instrument with four strings brought out a big crowd for the 16th Annual Great Waikoloa ‘Ukulele Festival on Saturday, March 5, at Queens’ MarketPlace and Kings’ Shops. Thousands of ‘ukulelelovers, luthiers, musicians, families, and friends filled three performance areas to enjoy 15 mini-concerts by ‘ukulele notables, to learn about making the instrument, and sit in on playing lessons, kani ka pila style.

The day began with a free B.Y.O.U. (Bring Your Own ‘Ukulele) class taught by leading instructor Roy Sakuma, the founder of ‘Ukulele Festival Hawai`i, now in its 46th year. From there, the music was nonstop, starting off with the enthusiastic Thunderbirds, a high school ‘ukulele band from Anchorage, Alaska. High points included classic favorites Ohta-san and Nando Suan, the exciting style of Chris Fuchigami, Brian Vasquez, Kevin Haleamau, Alii Keanaaina, Hilo’s own Brittni Paiva, the power of Paula Fuga, and Taimane Gardner, who never fails to wow an audience with her unique blend of flamenco, Hawaiian, classical, and original fusion music.

In addition, visitors got a sneak preview of the new Hawaiian ‘Ukulele & Guitar shop, coming soon to Queens’ MarketPlace, where a large selection of instruments, as well as sheet music, CDs, strings, accessories, and a fun new line of t-shirts will be offered.

Twelve lucky festival attendees were selected to take home brand new, topbrand ‘ukulele, which Sakuma shared from generous sponsors. “We hope that all the winners will be inspired to play, and to come back next year and join in the music,” said Margo Mau Bunnell, Sales & Operations Manager, Waikoloa Land Company. “This year’s ‘Ukulele Festival broke all the records. More people came out, and the music was the best yet. It’s so great to see.”

November/December 2013

Legends of Hawaii, our Big Island Story Luau

Sunday, Tuesday and FridayDoors open at 5:30 pmKamehameha Court

PRICING & RESERVATIONS

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED - Call Ext. 54

Imu Preparation
Stop by Kamehameha Court at 8 am to witness a traditional Imu preparation, where the Lua‘u Pig is cooked all day for the evening’s dinner and show. The Imu preparation is complimentary.
Lua‘u includes fresh orchid lei greeting upon arrival, open bar with beer, wine, tropical island favorite cocktails and kiddie mocktails, dinner, show, self-parking and gratuity.

March/April 2016

Whale Tale

The annual return to Hawaiian waters of the humpback whales — named for the motion they make as they arch their backs out of the water in preparation for a dive — is one of the most anticipated times in the islands, both for visitors and for residents. When we see the spouting, tail slapping, and athletic, full-body leaps from the water, even the locals stop by the side of the road, or pause what they’re doing to watch in gleeful wonder.

It’s painful to imagine, but these gentle giants who visit Hawai`i between November and March were once hunted close to extinction by whalers. The practice was sustainable — even if repulsive by today’s standards — through the 1850s and ‘60s. But once explosive harpoons were introduced in the late 19th century, the kill rate increased dramatically, and consequently the population of humpback whales saw a sharp decline.

Nowadays there are an estimated 140,000 humpback whales in the world’s oceans. This encouraging recovery was largely brought about when the International Whaling Commission gave the humpbacks protected status in 1966. Still, the number is only 30 - 35 percent of the species’ original population; and while stocks have partially recovered, today’s challenges include entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and noise pollution associated with sonar blasting the U.S. Navy was conducting until a recent agreement limiting the practice was reached.

A typical adult humpback weighs 40 tons, and lives 45-50 years. During their annual migration from summer feeding grounds near the poles to warmer winter breeding waters closer to the Equator, they travel some 3,100 miles at speeds of three to nine mph. They can travel up to 1,000 miles per month.

March/April 2016

Consultant and Naturalist Claire Muchin Shares Insights

One of the best ways to learn more about and watch the whales more closely is through a whale watch cruise, offered at Waikoloa Beach Resort by Ocean Sports (hawaiioceansports.com), a company that has been working in Hawai`i since 1981. We asked Claire Muchin, a consultant and naturalist on the Ocean Sports boats, to share some insights on the humpbacks.

NAUPAKA NEWS: The whales are late arriving in Hawai`i this year ... what would cause that?MUCHIN: Researchers aren’t sure. Some posit that the water stayed warmer longer in the northern areas where the whales feed, so they stayed longer to take advantage of the available calories. Others theorize that the whales migrated on their “normal” schedule, but stayed further offshore when they got to the main Hawaiian Islands because the coastal waters were “uncomfortably warm.”

NN: Does that also mean they will be staying longer than usual?
MUCHIN:The whales migrate to Hawai`i just to mate, calve, and take care of calves. As soon as they’re able to accomplish the particular task they came here to do, they’ll most likely leave (to get back to the food). We’ll know more sometime in May!

NN: Describe the migration ... where do the whales go, and when?
MUCHIN:The humpbacks that come to Hawai`i are part of the North Pacific population (there are 11 distinct populations who live in each of the world’s oceans). Of the approximately 20,000 - 22,000 North Pacific Humpbacks, about two-thirds come to Hawai`i. (The rest migrate to waters off of Baja California or the Southern Islands of Japan). For the most part, the humpbacks that come to Hawai`i migrate directly north and spend their summers off the coast of Alaska (from the Gulf of Alaska to the Aleutian Islands). Migration to Hawai`i from Alaska begins in autumn. Interestingly, individual humpbacks will not spend an entire winter here. They may spend as little as two weeks here before heading back … and if a female mates successfully on the way to Hawai`i, she may turn around and swim back to Alaska without even reaching the islands.

NN: We most often think of humpbacks as the primary species frequenting Hawaiian waters, but there are several other species also, correct?
MUCHIN:Humpbacks are the whales who migrate here, but as many as 18 different species of cetaceans live around the islands year-round. We encounter some of them frequently (like spinner dolphins), though most of the others live in deeper water (like sperm whales). But we do see some species like melon head whales, spotted dolphins, false killer whales, and pilot whales on occasion in the coastal waters.

NN: Climate change and warming seas are (pardon the pun) hot topics ... how do these phenomena affect the humpbacks’ migration patterns?
MUCHIN:We’re not really sure. Climate change may have had something to do with the later arrival of the whales this year … but we did start seeing them frequently on our charters by December 15th. Up until about four years ago, we didn’t even begin operating whale watch charters until that date because the whales hadn’t arrived until then. So actually, the earlier arrival of the humpbacks the past couple of years may have been the aberration ... and what we saw this year may have been the norm.

NN: How do those same conditions affect the health of the whales and their food sources generally?
MUCHIN: That’s a complex question with a complex answer. Many of the small prey fish (like herrings and anchovies) have been schooling nearer to shore in the past year, so that’s where the whales have been found. Everything in the ocean is interrelated.

NN: What are some of the other risks to the whale population these days? Navy sonar? Hunting? Ocean trash/plastics?
MUCHIN: All of the above. Also ship strikes, since the humpback population has increased, more whales are swimming in the shipping lanes. Big ships (like cargo ships) don’t often see the whales and have run into them.

NN: What are some of the main messages you try to get across to visitors on a whale watching cruise?
MUCHIN: We try to get our guests involved in the excitement of seeing the humpbacks and sharing the ocean with them. We’ve found that humpbacks themselves are the ones sharing the important messages.

March/April 2016

Asian Fest

On Friday, February 5, Queens’ MarketPlace came alive with the exciting rhythms of Taiko drummers and the pageantry of the Lion Dancers, as Waikoloa Beach Resort welcomed the Year of the Monkey.

Revelers brought lycee (red envelopes) ready with “lettuce” to feed the Lion and ensure good health and fortune in 2016. Queens’ MarketPlace restaurants set up booths in the courtyard and served delicious cuisine to more than 1,000 attendees.

Throughout the month of February, Waikoloa Beach Resort — from Hilton Grand Vacations Club, Kohala Suites and Bay Club, to the Kings’ Shops and Waikoloa Beach Marriott and Spa — welcomed the Year of the Monkey with festive celebrations and Lion Dancers

The individual medal was awarded to Aaron Wise of Oregon, whose stellar three-round tally of 16-under-par earned him top honors over Rico Hoey of USC (-14) and Maverick McNealy (-13) of Stanford.

A Wednesday night lu’au, hosted by Hawai’i County Mayor Billy Kenoi, welcomed all 18 participating teams to the island. Plaques commemorating their invaluable contributions were given to several of the people most responsible for the founding and continuing success of the tournament. Special recognition was given to Coach Earl Tamiya of UH Hilo, for his many years of service.

Past participants of the Amer Ari Intercollegiate tournament who have gone on to PGA Tour success include Jordan Spieth, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk, and others.

January/February 2016

Amer Ari & The PGA Tour Connection

PGA Tour professional Jordan Spieth spent a good part of 2015 ranked as the No. 1 golfer in the world, leapfrogging with Jason Day and Rory McIlroy for the honors. He climbed steadily toward the top of the rankings with wins at the Valspar Championship (March) and The Masters Tournament (April), with two second place finishes between the victories. He finally made it to the top slot in August and has remained in the top three ever since.

But it was only four short years ago, 2012, that Spieth was at Waikoloa Beach Resort, a standout collegiate player at University of Texas, leading a talented Longhorns team to a No. 1 national ranking and a victory at the 22nd Amer Ari Intercollegiate tournament.

It’s remarkable, really, for a player to jump from collegiate standout to best player in the world in such a short span of time. How did he do it? Was it pure talent alone? Turns out that Spieth — and a long list of top players before him, including Matt Kuchar, Anthony Kim, and Notah Begay — along with their college coaches, view tournaments such as the Amer Ari to be a perfect testing ground for the PGA Tour.

Coach Tim Mickelson of Arizona State University (ASU) says, “I encourage every player on my team to have professional golf as a goal of theirs. If they don’t want to take their golf to the pro level, there’s no guarantee I can get them to give 100 percent every day during college. The Amer Ari is one of the best collegiate tournaments in the country. It always has one of the strongest fields every year and simply participating in the event gives the college players a great feel of where they fit in college golf. If you can win the Amer Ari, you know you are in elite company.”

Photo: The victorious 2012 University of Texas Longhorns team, led by Jordan Spieth.

January/February 2016

Hard Work, Dedication

The current top-ranked collegiate player in the country is Michael Johnson of Auburn University. He and his teammates will once again be participating in the Amer Ari this February. Is it possible that Hawai‘i Island galleries will have a chance to see the next Jordan Spieth roaming the fairways at Waikoloa Beach Resort? If you ask Johnson, the answer is a resounding yes.

“My main goal in golf is to play on the PGA Tour,” he says. “I can see myself playing on Tour for a long time. The success of Jordan (Spieth) doesn’t surprise me at all. Everywhere he has played he has won; he is a special player. So it really wasn’t a big surprise to me. It just shows me that if you work hard and are a competitor you can win. It doesn’t make me work harder it really just makes me want to win more. I want to get out on Tour and compete with the best.”

ASU’s Mickelson — whose brother Phil has had a Hall of Fame PGA Tour career — says his goal is to have his players work and prepare just as the Tour pros do so they are prepared for professional golf after their four years in college.

“I believe that there is no substitute for hard work,” he says. “If you put in the right type of work, the right amount of work, truly dedicate yourself to your goal, and have some fundamentals, then we feel that will give them the best chance at a successful professional golf career.”

Photo: Stanford’s Maverick McNealy

January/February 2016

A Taste of the Tour

Another part of preparing for a career in professional golf is understanding the challenges that come with a life on the road: the travel, adjustment to time zone changes, and other issues encountered in the global game played today.

Auburn’s Johnson, whose team travels to Hawai‘i Island from Auburn, Alabama, feels the Amer Ari provides a good glimpse of those challenges. “The Amer Ari definitely gives you a taste of the Tour,” he says, “meaning that you have to travel a little bit more than usual to play and you have to deal with jet lag. It is really important there to catch up on your sleep.”

But he also says participating in the tournament has been one of his best college experiences: “Playing in the Amer Ari has been a blast since my sophomore year. It is such a fun tournament with one of the best fields in college golf.”

Of course not every player, regardless of their collegiate success, is set on a career on the PGA Tour. The number three-ranked player in men’s college golf, Maverick McNealy of Stanford University, says, “To be honest, I am not sure. All I know is that, for the next year and a half, I am going to work as hard as I can to get my degree (in Management Science and Engineering), improve as much as possible, and play the best golf that I possibly can.”

McNealy says his biggest motivator is improvement. “One of the most rewarding things for me in life is getting better at something. My freshman year, I finished tied for 90th (+4) at the Amer Ari, and last year I finished tied for 2nd (-15). To me, that improvement was even more satisfying than winning the tournament.”

To that end, whether they end up playing on the PGA Tour or not, the game of golf, along with the experiences that tournaments such as the Amer Ari provide, go a long way in preparing a young person for whatever life has to offer.

The annual Amer Ari Intercollegiate golf tournament will take place at The Kings’ Course at Waikoloa Beach Resort on February 4-6, 2016. The host team is UHHilo, coached by Earl Tamiya, with 18 schools competing. The event is free and open to the public, with teams teeing off at 7:30 am each morning.

Photo: Auburn’s Michael Johnson

January/February 2016

The 10th Annual Moku O Keawe International Hula Festival Winners

The 10th Annual Moku O Keawe International Hula Festival took place November 11 – 14 at Hilton Waikoloa Village. In addition to highlevel competition among participating hālau from Japan, Hawai`i, and elsewhere, the Festival included workshops on hula, how to make traditional gourd rattles, cultural talks, and a rooted-in-culture fashion show. Competition winners were:

November/December 2015

Sport of Kings

Photographer and Hawai`i Island resident Kirk Aeder has captured the spirit and sport of surfing over the years, including many images of A-Bay.

Surrounded by an endless ocean with no other landmasses to obstruct it, the Hawaiian Islands draw open ocean swells from all directions,” Aeder says. “Along this coast we get primarily west and northwest swells, which is ideal.”

‘Anaeho`omalu Bay, fronting Waikoloa Beach Resort, is known to Hawai`i Island surfers as one of the better spots to catch waves along the Kohala Coast.

“When it’s 20 feet at Jaws (one of Maui’s renowned surf spots) it’s 6-8 feet here,” says photographer Kirk Aeder, a resident of Hawai`i Island since the early 1990s, whose resume includes published work in Surfer, The Surfer’s Journal, and other international magazines that focus on the sport. “But the surf here is cleaner and more manageable.”

Up and down the Kohala Coast, those “more manageable” waves are found in abundance, drawing beginners and aficionados alike. Aeder lists Hapuna Beach, Waialea (Beach 69), `Anaeho`omalu Bay (or more simply A-Bay), and Pueos as having the best “high-performance waves” on this side of the island.

There’s also Pua Ka`ilima Cultural Surf Park at Kawaihae, which hosts an annual longboard competition. This break is said to have been a favorite spot of Ka`ahumanu, wife of Hawai`i’s revered Kamehameha the Great, who himself was born in North Kohala and learned to surf along the Kona-Kohala Coast.

November/December 2015

Origins

Though the origins of surfing — called he`enalu in the Hawaiian language, which translates literally to “wave sliding” — are lost to history, Hawai`i, and particularly Hawai`i Island, is where it is acknowledged to have evolved.

“In pre-European times,” writes Ben Finney and James D. Houston in their excellent book, Surfing, A History of the Ancient Hawaiian Sport, “surfing was more than just catching and riding an ocean wave. It was the center of a circle of social and ritual activities that began with the very selection of the tree from which a board was carved and could end in the premature death of a chief — as was the result of at least one famous surfing contest in Hawaiian legend.”

Finney and Houston go on, “(William) Ellis, that adventurous missionary who hiked around the island of Hawai`i, described the islanders’ mass reaction to a sudden run of good waves: ‘the thatch houses of a whole village stood empty ... daily tasks such as farming, fishing and tapa-making were left undone while an entire community — men, women and children — enjoyed themselves in the rising surf and rushing white water.’”

Surfing lapsed into the background once the Boston missionaries arrived in the islands in the 1850s and began dissuading the Hawaiian people from showing their bodies and partaking in the traditional culture they had practiced for so many thousands of years in favor of a more prudent lifestyle. But by the early part of the 20th century, surfing had seen the beginning of a revival.

Indeed, when we think of surfing, the first images that come to mind are likely of the legendary Duke Kahanamoku on Waikīkī Beach from those days; or the 1960s and ‘70s, when big wave jockeys on O‘ahu’s North Shore began riding the face of 20-foot curlers at Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Bay, and Haleiwa, where the Triple Crown of Surfing was born and is still conducted.

November/December 2015

As Much a Religion as a Sport

Even though O`ahu may be more famous nowadays, there are also those, like Aeder, who know where to find the best swells and breaks on Hawai`i Island, and for whom surfing the Big Island is close to spiritual.

“I moved to the Big Island in 1993,” Aeder says, “and it really opened my eyes. There are other areas where early evidence of surfing is seen, but Hawai`i is where it really came to fruition, and a lot of that happened on the Big Island.”

He points to Kahalu`u Bay, an ancient surf spot in Kailua-Kona once used by Hawaiian ali`i (royalty) and the Ku`emanu Heiau at the north end of the bay, where the ali`i would pray for good surf and probably shaped their boards.

Aeder also points out that one of Captain Cook’s lieutenants, James King, described seeing Hawaiians surfing in his journal entry from 1779 when their ships arrived in Kealakekua Bay:

“A diversion the most common is upon the water, where there is a very great sea, and surf breaking on the shore. The men, sometimes 20 or 30, go and lay themselves flat upon an oval piece of plan [board] about their size and breadth, they keep their legs close on top of it, and their arms are used to guide the plank, they wait the time of the greatest swell that sets on shore, and altogether push forward with their arms to keep on its top, it sends them in with a most astonishing velocity, and the great art is to guide the plan so as always to keep it in a proper direction on the top of the swell, and as it alters its direct. If the swell drives him close to the rocks before he is overtaken by its break, he is much praised.”

Many other writers — Mark Twain and Jack London foremost among them — have been taken with the art and sport of surfing over the years since Cook. London’s enthusiastic account of his experiences learning to ride a surfboard in Waikīkī, first published in Woman’s Home Companion and then reprinted in The Cruise of the Snark in 1911, helped to popularize surfing outside of Hawaii. It is, London said, the “royal sport for the natural kings of earth.”

“It is special to live in such a surf-laden area,” Aeder reflects. “I drive by the water and think, ‘This is where it all began.’ I can almost picture Kamehameha out there on his board.”

November/December 2015

Waikoloa Beach Resort Welcomes Mai Grille

Hawai`i Island’s chefs are blessed with an abundance of fresh, local ingredients from the land and sea, as well as a food culture that is rooted in deep tradition. Chef Allen Hess is taking full advantage of all that bounty at his new eatery, Mai Grille, located inside the resort’s Kings’ Golf Course clubhouse.

Hess says it is his culinary mission to take fresh- raised foods from local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen, and prepare them with state-of-the-art skills. “There’s a story behind each of the ingredients,” he says. “I personally know the people who provide the food, from fresh-caught ‘ahi to local zucchini.”

Mai Grille features Hess’s well-known “slow foods” philosophy of regional cooking, which he has practiced during stints at Alan Wong, Canoe House, his own bistro, Allen’s Table, and Merriman’s in Waimea.

“‘Slow foods’ is about more than how you cook the food,” Hess says, “but about how food is raised, buying seasonally appropriate ingredients, and taking your time to put the right foods on the plate. If you are buying fresh ingredients, it’s important to serve them when they taste the best. It’s also about supporting the community ... that’s part of our whole approach.”

The former Kings’ Grille closed for a two-week renovation in September, and reopened as Mai Grille on October 5, serving daily breakfast (such as a signature BLT with two eggs) and lunch (think grilled shrimp kabobs on toasted mac nut rice; or a “20/80 burger” with 20 percent ground bacon combined with 80 percent aged ground beef), with dinner service planned for a winter start.

September/October 2015

Lava, Lava Everywhere

If your reaction to flying into the Kona International Airport for the first time was, “We just landed on the moon,” you are not alone.

The vast fields of brown and black lava one sees from an airplane window look quite a bit like what we’d expect of a lunar landscape. Stretching from mauka to makai all along the Kona-Kohala Coast, they are a stark and magnificent sight that not even those who have traveled far and wide are likely to have seen before.

Born of the molten issue from Hawai`i Island’s family of five volcanoes — Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualālai, Kīlauea, and the Kohala Range — the dozen or so distinct lava fields we drive through to reach Waikoloa Beach Resort from the airport (which itself is built atop a lava flow from Hualālai) are anywhere from 156 to tens of thousands of years old. The most recent eruption in this area came from Mauna Loa in 1859; the lava flow on which Waikoloa Beach Resort is built is thought to have occurred in 1800-1801.

Islands Born of Fire

On the south end of the island, 100 miles from the Kohala Coast resorts, Kīlauea Volcano has been spewing lava continuously for more than 30 years, sitting atop the underwater “hot spot” in the 3,600-mile-long Hawaiian Island-Emperor Seamount chain.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, “All the Hawaiian Islands owe

their existence to this hot spot in the Earth’s mantle that has changed location only slightly over the past 70 million years. Countless eruptions of lava fed by the hot spot built volcanoes that eventually grew above sea level to form (the Hawaiian) islands.

“But because the seafloor on which they were built was continually moving northwestward across the hot spot at a rate of 7-9 centimeters per year, eventually each volcano was torn away from the hot spot and carried northwestward, just as a conveyor belt moves material from one location to another. Such is the (eventual) fate for the active volcanoes on the Big Island, though they will be replaced by new volcanoes.”

September/October 2015

A Language All Their Own

Volcanoes have their own language and here in Hawai`i, even their own goddess. Visitors are sure to hear stories of Pele, the fire goddess of volcanoes; discover the difference between ‘a‘ā (sharp, brown) and pāhoehoe (smooth, black) lava; drive past cinder cones and pu‘u formations; and view spatter ramparts, lava tubes and caves, and crustal overturnings by the side of the highway.

Why so much variation in the look and texture of our lava fields? “All Hawaiian lava is black when it first cools but may turn more brownish as the iron in the lava oxidizes with rain and time,” says James Kauahikaua, a geophysicist with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. “The type of lava — ‘a‘ā or pāhoehoe — is the result of sheer stresses within the liquid lava while it is flowing. Higher eruption rates characteristic of the early days of an eruption usually produce ‘a‘ā lava, whereas lower eruption rates usually produce pāhoehoe lava. There is no substantial difference in chemistry between the two forms of lava.”

The early Hawaiians made creative use of the dominant material they had on hand, using the lava rock to build boundary fences, pens for livestock, heiau (religious platforms), and fishpond seawalls among many things.

Adjacent to the fishponds fronting the Waikoloa Beach Mariott Resort & Spa, two rock structures (thought to have been constructed in the 1300s) were used for the highly structured, religious system of the Hawaiians. The men’s eating house, or Ka Hale Mua, is the larger of the two and consists of three rooms. Men visited to worship the gods and eat food together. Women were forbidden to eat with men in ancient Hawaiian times. The sleeping house, or Noa, is a one-room structure where men and women met freely and slept together.

In some areas, the pāhoehoe lava was used for carving petroglyphs, with some of the best of the state’s best petroglyph fields preserved within Waikoloa Beach Resort. With no written Hawaiian language, it is speculated that these rock carvings may be a sort of historical record of families, commemorations of significant events, or even astronomical symbols.

A tour of the Waikoloa petroglyph fields is offered every Thursday and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 am (groups meet lakeside, next to Island Fish & Chips in Kings’ Shops).

September/October 2015

King’s Trail

Also running through the lava fields of Waikoloa Beach Resort is Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, which includes a section often referred to as the King’s Trail, which at one point linked communities, temples, fishing areas, and other important locations on Hawai`i Island. This was also the route the ali‘i of old traveled to visit their people for religious ceremonies and other ritual events.

Running for 175 miles from ‘Upolu Point near Hawi, through Kona, past South Point, and all the way to the eastern border of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail was officially formed in 2000 for the purposes of preserving the sensitive ecosystems, cultural sites, and indigenous species found along its route. The trail in the area of the Kohala Coast beach resorts is part of the first 75 miles to be preserved under the new Historic Trail system, and makes for a fascinating day hike.

In addition to being the pathway of the ali‘i, the original trail was an important transportation corridor for the early Hawaiian people. Although canoes were the principal means of travel, the trail allowed for overland transportation of food, water, building materials, and other necessities. Fed by connecting trails, it also facilitated trade between the shoreline fishing villages and the upland farming villages.

Though many of the old trails have been lost to erosion and changing land use, with the establishment of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, the remaining portions of the main coastline trail will be preserved and protected for future generations.

So while it may seem like you’ve landed on the moon when you first arrive, you haven’t. But you certainly have landed in one of the most unique and fascinating corners of paradise.

July/August 2015

Ties to the Ocean

“The wa‘a shaped the Hawaiian people physically, intellectually and spiritually as much as the Hawaiians shaped the logs that became their canoes.”
—Renowned Hawaiian artist and historian Herb Kane.

According to the Kumulipo, Hawai`i’s sacred creation chant, everything in the universe is connected and everything in the universe has a consciousness. The Kumulipo describes the traditional Hawaiian view that man is the younger sibling of nature, and how it is the responsibility of man to look after the needs of nature, just as it is the responsibility of nature to care for the needs of man. When these responsibilities are met, man and nature achieve balance.

Perhaps nowhere is this balance more apparent than in the island people’s relationship to the ocean, and to the Hawaiian canoe, the wa`a. One of the most important tools in the culture and history of the islands, great double-hulled seafaring canoes were the vessels on which the original Hawaiians came to the islands from other parts of the Pacific in the first place. Once here, canoes were vital to the Hawaiians’ sustenance and survival, providing the means by which they could fish and travel between islands.

When Captain Cook arrived in Kealakekua Bay in 1779, he was greeted by some 1,500 canoes, a clear indication that the Hawaiian people centered their lives in and on the ocean. There were so many canoes, in fact, that Cook’s men thought they could walk to the shore stepping from canoe to canoe.

Fittingly, great ceremony was associated with every aspect of the canoe, starting with finding and hewing the perfect tree, a process overseen by a kahuna. The first Hawaiian canoes were crafted of koa wood, a species of hard wood endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and often found deep in the upland forests. After days of prayer and work, the chosen log would be hauled — some weighing thousands of pounds and measuring up to 70 feet in length — to a special shelter by the sea, where it was carved under the kahuna’s watchful eye and plentiful blessings into a sacred vessel that would eventually be launched into the water.

July/August 2015

Waikoloa Canoe Club

Some wa‘a are still built in this traditional fashion, notably the Hōkūle`a and the Big Island’s own Makali`i, which have faithfully replicated those early double-hulled canoes used by ancestral Hawaiians, and have made numerous voyages around the Pacific.

But the greater majority of outrigger canoes these days are made of fiberglass and used by racing teams as well as recreational paddlers, including an increasing number of keiki (youth). Daniel Legler is the head coach of Waikoloa Canoe Club, an organization whose mission is to “strengthen family and community relationships, improve ourselves both mentally and physically, help eliminate social differences, create positive interdependence, and help preserve local customs and traditions by perpetuating the sport of outrigger canoe racing.”

Based on the beach at Anaeho‘omalu Bay in front of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, and adjacent to Lava Lava Beach Club, Legler was named head coach in February. “Most of the keiki are from the Waikoloa community with some from Waimea,” Legler says. “Paddling is a great way for them to learn about the Hawaiian culture, learn about the ocean, and have some fun at the same time. When they start at that age, paddling becomes part of who they are, part of what they carry with them through life.”

Of the 200 or so paid members of Waikoloa Canoe Club, Legler estimates 30- 40 are keiki (aged 5-10 years old) and most of those are girls. In addition to the keiki and `ohana (recreational) programs, Legler also oversees the Club’s racing programs.

“There has been phenomenal support from local paddlers for a new focus on racing,” he says. “A lot of people wanted to see us be more competitive.”

With an extensive paddling resume that over the past two racing seasons includes winning the Lili`uokalani Masters title and the State Masters Long Distance Championship at the Henry Ayau Memorial, and placing high in the Hawaii State Masters Regatta Championship and the Moloka`i Hoe Masters World Title, Legler says his experience in these events, participating alongside master paddlers, changed his perspective.

“I learned so much about technique and culture,” he says, “but also about respect for the ocean, how to understand the waves and the weather. It is a humbling sport.”

July/August 2015

A Hawaiian Tradition

Waikoloa Beach Resort guests have the opportunity to watch the canoes in action on August 29, as the Great Waikoloa Canoe Race (sponsored by Waikoloa Beach Resort and Lava Lava Beach Club) takes place in Anaeho`omalu Bay; and a busy practice schedule finds canoes and paddlers in the water almost every day of the week. Resort guests can also learn about and even try paddling for themselves, as Legler can be found at Anaeho`omalu Bay most days. Similarly, Club Beach Director Ed Teixeira is usually found on Thursday mornings on the beach sharing his knowledge of the Hawaiian traditions, language, and techniques of paddling with the `ohana paddlers.

“When someone gets in a canoe,” Teixeira says, “they are stepping into Hawaiian history. It is important for them to know something about that. In the pre- Western contact days there were canoes of all types that the Hawaiians used for transportation and fishing. In the days of Kamehameha I, canoes were used to conquer and unite the islands.

“Nowadays, the sport of outrigger canoe padding is the state sport. We have managed to take a sport of the past and make it modern, while still adhering to the traditions of the past. This is not only true in Hawai`i, but in many other parts of the Pacific also. We are very proud that Hawai`i has been a catalyst for the resurgence of canoe paddling throughout the world.”

May/June 2015

A Farm-to-Table Bounty

Building on the enthusiasm generated by Hawai`i Island’s inaugural participation last year, the opening night of the Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival is once again taking place at Waikoloa Beach Resort on Saturday, August 29, with the theme “Seven Chefs, One Big Island.” The presenting chefs include both Jayson Kanekoa from the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, and Hans Lentz of Hilton Waikoloa Village. They will be joined by Floyd Cardoz (White Street, New York, NY), Michael Meredith (Meredith’s Restaurant, Auckland, NZ), Paul Qui (qui, Austin, TX), Richard Rosendale (U.S. Representative Bocuse d’Or 2013), and Ming Tsai (Blue Ginger, Wellesley, MA).

“With more than half of the agricultural lands in the state on Hawai`i Island, there is a diversity of local products for our chefs to choose from,” says the Festival’s co-founder Alan Wong. “With local beef, coffee, abalone, and kampachi sourced from Hawai`i Island, we look forward to seeing some great innovation and creativity from our guest chefs.”

But it is not only the visiting Food & Wine Festival chefs who have this bounty of ingredients from which to choose, but local chefs and home cooks also. In addition to the products Chef Wong lists, farmers on Hawai`i Island grow heirloom tomatoes, several varieties of lettuce and mushrooms, strawberries, all types of root vegetables, breadfruit, many herbs and spices, macadamia nuts, and much more. Specialty products include local honey, gourmet ice cream, sea salt, and chocolate. Mangos and avocados the size of softballs grow wild and can be bought on the side of the road in some places for as little as 50 cents. The island’s cornucopia of fruits, vegetables, and food products is all on display at a number of popular weekly farmers markets. For starters, Waikoloa Beach Resort guests need look no further than Kings’ Shops, where a Wednesday farmers market takes place. Up the hill in Waikoloa Village, a new Saturday market recently started; and in Waimea, a Wednesday market and two Saturday markets are popular with visitors and locals alike.

May/June 2015

Culinary Delights

Chefs and restaurants from Waikoloa to Hawi, Waimea to Honoka`a have long taken advantage of this abundance.

One chef who intimately understands what the land provides is Jayson Kanekoa of Waikoloa Beach Marriott. Kanekoa was born and raised near Waipio Valley on the northeastern shore of the Big Island, and says his love of cooking Hawaiian-inspired foods and flavors comes from his grandfather, a taro farmer who made his own poi. “We use locally sourced ingredients as much as possible,” Kanekoa says. His sources include JA Farms in Waimea, from which he gets a variety of herbs. “It is a great feeling to be able to share the foods I grew up enjoying with resort guests from around the world.”

Chef Scott Lutey at Sansei Seafood, Steak & Sushi Bar in Queens’ MarketPlace is adamant about using local ingredients in as many of his dishes as possible. “There is no comparison to having local produce picked daily and delivered,” Lutey says. “The flavor and texture can’t be beat. We get to know the farmers so there is a personal connection; we tour the farms to see what they do. They are all very proud of what they produce. Tourists come here to try items from Hawai`i, so aside from great products, it’s a great selling point.”

Lutey cites Hirabara Farms as his source for greens; WOW Farms and Nakano Farms for tomatoes and cucumbers; Nakamoto Farms for his baby bok choy; and Adaptations for specialty items, herbs, fruits, greens, and micro garnish. Lava Lava Beach Club also uses a number of locally grown products on their “farm-to-beach” menu, including local greens in their salads, local tomatoes in the gazpacho, and fresh-as-can-be fish caught daily in the waters near Kona. “Whenever possible we work with locally sourced ingredients. Our island is home to some of the greatest produce, dairy, and of course, fish, Hawai`i and the Pacific have to offer,” says partner Scott Dodd.

May/June 2015

The Feeling is Mutual

The farm-to-fork movement is nothing new to Hawai`i Island. During World War II, many local farmers expanded their fields to provide fresh food to the 50,000 troops who were suddenly stationed in Waimea. Then, with the surge of new resorts on the island in the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, chefs began to work closely with Hawai`i Island farmers, ranchers, and fishermen to supply their restaurants and the growing tourism industry. But it is clearly a two-way street, as the growers, ranchers, and fisherman have also come to rely on strong resort and restaurant ties for their livelihood.

Owners Kurt and Pam Hirabara supply greens for signature salads at Sansei. On less than two acres, Hirabara Farms in Kamuela manages to produce 13 types of lettuces, at a remarkable rate of 350 pounds a day.

Nakano Farms, run by Richard and Patsy Nakano, produces mainly tomatoes, but also Korean cucumbers, haricot verts, sweet corn, and melons in Kamuela. Their products are used at Sansei Seafood, Steak & Sushi Bar and other local establishments. And the Hodson family at WOW Farms in Waimea grow mainly organic tomatoes (including Mahiki heirlooms) on their 10 acres of Hawaiian Homestead land, and are known for producing some of the tastiest tomatoes in the state. WOW products are used in local restaurants and available at farmers markets for home chefs to use and enjoy.

As for seafood, many chefs (including Lutey at Sansei) use Kona Fish or Kona Cold for the freshest catch imaginable. Among the plethora of local fish they provide are ahi, ono, mahimahi, opah, kampachi, swordfish, opaka, moi, as well as lobster, shrimp, and abalone.

In the end, of course, it’s diners who reap the tasty benefits, a fact reinforced every time they dine at a local restaurant or whip up a tasty meal at home … and as the Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival will once again clearly demonstrate in late August.

March/April 2015

The Paniolo Connection

But as anyone who has explored the island will attest, a rich paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) and ranch tradition can be found in the green upcountry just a short drive away from the resort, a tradition that is still a driving force in preserving the culture and beauty of the island today.

Parker Ranch is the oldest, largest, and most famous of the island’s ranches. Centered in Waimea, Parker Ranch was founded in 1816 when a young sailor named John Parker Palmer, who jumped ship in 1809 and befriended King Kamehameha I, married Chiefess Kipikane, the King’s granddaughter. The couple was granted two acres of land, and from those humble beginnings a great ranch was born.

The cattle for which the Ranch came to be renowned, and around which the paniolo culture grew, were a gift from British Captain George Vancouver to King Kamehameha I in 1778. Kamehameha set the five cattle free to roam the island, and declared them kapu (off limits). Over the next 20 years, those five multiplied into thousands, causing Kamehameha and his heirs to look for ways to contain the herd, which soon began wreaking havoc on families and gardens.

After participating in the War of 1812, Parker returned to Hawai`i permanently, and brought with him a new, state-of-the-art American musket. Kamehameha gave Parker exclusive permission not only to shoot the now-pesky wild cattle, but to supply meat and hides for local and foreign consumption.

In 1832, Kamehameha III sent one of his high chiefs to California to hire Spanish-Mexican vaquero (cowboys) to help train Hawaiians to rope and handle cattle. Because they spoke Spanish (Español), they were called “paniolo” and the island soon embraced their colorful traditions of music, cuisine, family values, and hard work.

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The land which Waikoloa Beach Resort now occupies was once part of the vast Parker Ranch holdings. At its height in the 1930s and ‘40s, Parker Ranch encompassed more than 500,000 acres and 30,000 head of cattle, stretching from the slopes of Mauna Kea down to the lava-strewn shoreline along the Kohala Coast.

But as market conditions and economic realities changed, Richard Smart — the sixth generation heir and last private owner of Parker Ranch — authorized the sale of low-yield pasture land along the coast for resort development. That decision turned out to be brilliant, for in addition to providing Parker Ranch with the funds it needed to continue operations, it also set the table for a tourism-based economy on the island in a time when the sugarcane industry was waning.

The first such sale Smart made was to Laurence Rockefeller in 1963, who purchased the land surrounding Kauna‘oa Bay at the north end of the coast, on which he developed Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. “It is land the cows don’t like but the tourists love — hot and barren,” Smart said in an interview with People. In 1969, the Ranch sold the land surrounding Anaeho‘omalu Bay to the Boise Cascade and Signal companies, and the development of Waikoloa Beach Resort got underway.

According to an article commemorating the Ranch’s 150th anniversary in 2012 by Jan Wizinowich, “This was a hard decision; both areas were special gathering places for the ranch ‘ohana.”

Les Purdy, who has been employed at Waikoloa Beach Resort for more than 43 years, remembers those days well. “There was almost nothing down here back then,” he says. “The Ranch had built a house on the beach near the fishponds [that now front the Marriott].You had to bring in your own water. We’d come in by boat, as there was no road access. But it was great. As a kid I would come down with my family to fish and play on the beach.”

PANIOLO PAST & PRESENT

Purdy’s father, Martin, was a paniolo for Parker Ranch for 33 years, and his grandfather, Ikua Purdy, was one of Hawai`i’s most famous cowboys. Ikua is perhaps best known for winning the steer-roping competition at the 1908 Frontier Days celebration in Cheyenne, Wyoming, competing alongside two other now-legendary paniolo, Archie Ka‘au‘a, and Jack Low. The trio wowed the Mainland crowds with their cowboy hats decorated with colorful flower lei, but more so with their exemplary skills as cattlemen.

A statue of Ikua Purdy is on permanent display at Parker Ranch Center in Waimea and many other examples of the still-active paniolo lifestyle are easy to find. Anyone interested in seeing a master saddle maker at work, for instance, can stop into Kua‘aina Saddlery at Pukalani Stables — the center of Parker Ranch’s horse breeding operation for many years — and strike up a conversation with Pete Gorrell, who will tell fascinating stories of the cowboys of yesteryear, as well as share the secrets of working with leather.

Also at Pukalani Stables is the Paniolo Heritage Center, where a collection of historic saddles, photos, and artifacts from the Ranch’s early days is found, as well as the Paniolo Hall of Fame. Additionally, an annual 4th of July Rodeo takes place at the nearby Parker Ranch Arena; and a traditional Paniolo Parade is held as part of the Hawai`i Island Festival each September, where both horses and riders are adorned with intricate and colorful flower lei on a parade route that leads along the main highway in Waimea.

For visitors to Waikoloa Beach Resort, as well as for appreciative residents who enjoy its graceful ways, the paniolo connection is alive and well on Hawai`i Island.

March/April 2015

Asu State Captures Amer Ari

The Amer Arti Invitational, the prestigious annual collegiate golf tournament hosted by The University of Hawai`i Hilo and staged at Waikoloa Kings’ Course, was held February 5-7, 2015. Seventeen teams from across the United States and one team from Japan participated, with the Arizona State Sun Devils emerging victorious. The University of Washington Huskies placed second, 2 strokes back; with USC and Oregon tying for third 3 strokes off the pace.
Individual honors went to Cheng-Tsung Pan of Washington with scores of 65- 65-69—199 (-17), bettering Maverick McNealy of Stanford by 2 strokes.

Over the years, some of the brightest young stars in the game have played the Amer Ari before finding success on the PGA Tour, including Jordan Speith (Texas, 2012), Notah Begay (Stanford, 1994), Matt Kuchar (Georgia Tech, 1999 and 2000) and Anthony Kim (Oklahoma, 2004).

January/February 2015

Free Wiliwili The Waikoloa Dry Forest Initative

Hawai`i Island is uniquely beautiful, with its vast lava fields of black and brown, its perfect beaches and bays, rolling green upcountry, and towering mountains. There’s nowhere else like it on earth.

But as lovely as it is today, the landscape looked much different 200 years ago, when much of the upcountry was blanketed by thick sandalwood forests, and many other genus of trees flourished on the mountain slopes. Among the most magnificent of the endemic flora is the wiliwili tree, which was once found in abundance in the drier, lower elevations.

Once common on the terrain now occupied by Waikoloa Resort’s golf courses and the dry forest areas surrounding Waikoloa Village a few miles mauka, the lands on which the wiliwili trees thrived became degraded over time by ungulates (hooved animals such as goats, pigs, and cattle), invasive plants, fire, and dumping.

PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND RESTORE

Enter Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative, a group whose mission is to “preserve, protect and restore a remnant native Hawaiian dry forest ecosystem through land management, outreach, education and grass roots advocacy.” Founded 10 years ago by a group of concerned residents, including Beverly Brand and members of the Outdoor Circle, a 75- year lease for 275 acres was procured from the Waikoloa Village Association to create a sanctuary where the wiliwili trees and other dry forest species could be protected and restored. Located just southwest of Waikoloa Village, the land was fenced off, and restoration work was begun. “The fence helped get rid of the ungulates,” says Jen Lawson, Executive Director of Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative. “That was the first important step.”

Next, a squad of volunteers started working on cleaning up the land, and readying it for replanting. “Wiliwili trees were populous on the island at one time,” Lawson says, “but we’ve lost about half of the entire population here in Waikoloa over the last 10 years, and likely the same overall.” She speculates that there are around 60 trees left in the preserve, maybe 200 in the Waikoloa zone, and no more than 1,000 on the island, but stresses that because the trees are not protected no data has been collected.

In addition to degradation of habitat, Lawson says many of the trees are simply dying of old age. With a maximum life span of around 350 years, if no seedlings (Lawson calls the young trees “keiki”) are sprouting, the species becomes even further threatened.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

Under Lawson’s guidance, the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative has been busy planting trees, and not just the wiliwili. As they worked the land, the group also discovered several rare uhiuhi trees, so they started replanting those as well.

“These trees can survive in super-harsh environments,” Lawson says. “They just need a little help from us. Both of these species were significant in Hawaiian culture, so it’s important for them to survive. The uhiuhi tree was used in making tools, weaponry, and housing. It is a dense wood … heavier than water. The wiliwili tree is super light, and was used in making the ama (float) on outrigger canoes and surfboards.”

A field biologist by training, Lawson says the group’s goal is to one day improve access to the site by improving the road, as well as have the preserve open for self-guided tours. She also hopes to construct an interpretive center with staff on-site.

For the time being, “We try to accommodate people as much as we can,” she says. “We interact with all the schools, and our Future Foresters Program brings kids in every other Saturday. We’ve also had groups from the resorts come up by appointment … a group from Hilton Grand Vacations was up recently and really enjoyed the experience.”

REASON TO HOPE

Lawson is also passionate about getting both wiliwili and uhiuhi wood (from dead trees only) into the hands of artists so that, much like koa, the qualities and beauty of each tree will come to be further appreciated. Legendary Hawaiian surfer, surf historian, and Olympian Duke Kahanamoku (1890- 1968) once noted that the olo (18- 24 feet long) board designs of the old Hawaiian ali‘i were often made from the wood of wiliwili trees.

Though the task of restoring the dry forests of Waikoloa is a big one, Lawson is optimistic. “With a rainy year like 2014,” she says, “more than 500 keiki came up out of the ground and about one-third of them made it!”

That ray of hope, along with the additional exposure and support the preserve received last September during the Wiliwili Festival — scheduled to coincide with one of the best flowering seasons in recent memory — and Lawson feels the group’s efforts may be starting to turn a corner toward recovery and restoration of the dry forest.

“I tell the school kids who come and visit us here that, ‘If something is bothering you in the environment, do something about it!’” she says.

With positive examples like Lawson and the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative leading the way, the future for Hawai`i’s keiki — both human and tree — has been planted.

November/December 2014

Let Us Entertain You

From hula competitions to big-name bands such as America there is always something happening at Waikoloa Beach Resort. Hawai`i is blessed with a wealth of cultural traditions, brought to the islands over the past two centuries from the world over. From Portugal to Japan, from China to the Philippines, and of course from almost every Pacific Island group, this rich heritage is easily seen in the food, dance, art, and music that visitors encounter during their stays. This is particularly true at Waikoloa Beach Resort, where this cornucopia of home-grown talent is complemented by world-class bands and shows that the resort presents on a regular basis.

A Happening Place
“We made a decision a couple of years ago to expand the scope of our entertainment efforts,” says Scott Head, Vice President Operations for Waikoloa Beach Resort. “Nowadays, our resort guests know they can expect exciting entertainment whenever they visit; and the local community does too. Whether it’s the many authentic cultural programs found here on a daily and weekly basis, or the marquee talent such as the band America, who were just here in September, everyone knows Waikoloa Beach Resort is the happening place for entertainment on the Kohala Coast.”

In addition to America — which graced the Grand Ballroom stage at Hilton Waikoloa Village on September 27 and played songs from their more than four-decade catalogue of music, including “Horse with No Name,” “Ventura Highway,” and “Sister Golden Hair” — over the past years Waikoloa Beach Resort guests have seen mega-bands such as Chicago, Journey, and Earth Wind & Fire.

“The response to these shows has been overwhelming positive,” Head says. “These are the kinds of events that really distinguish the resort and engage not only our out of town visitors but the local community as well.”

Special occasions will find acts such as the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra who brought their Swing Era sounds to the Waikoloa Beach Marriott in August. Comedy is even on the schedule at the Voodoo Room at Kings’ Golf Course Grille, with Kona Kozy’s Comedy & Magic Show. Kozy, who has been described as “a kahuna of magic and comedy” is the #1 ranked activity on island.

“It’s all about striking a balance,” Head says. “We want our guests to enjoy all the Hawai`i Island culture and ambience that makes the Big Island so special, while at the same time delivering the big shows that everyone in the community will be interested in seeing.”

November/December 2014

Seasonal Delights

Christmas in Hawai`i is nowadays celebrated much the same as it is elsewhere in the Western World, with tree-lightings, Santa appearances, gifts, and holiday feasts. And though these traditions weren’t embraced in the islands until the Boston Missionaries brought them in the early 1800s, the original Hawaiians did celebrate what was called Makahiki season. Makahiki consists of four lunar months — November through February — and during this season war was kapu (forbidden), religious ceremonies were observed, offerings were made to the ali`i, and the people spent their time feasting, playing sports, and practicing good will toward others.

Waikoloa Beach Resort guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a full schedule of holiday entertainment Hawaiian style, with everything from the Sasha Knowles Dance troupe performing “Nutcracker with a Twist” to the Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Handbell Choir.

And if you’re a fan of your favorite holiday songs played on a Hawaiian guitar, you will want to see “John Keawe’s Hawaiian Christmas” on December 23. Keawe, one of Hawai`i Island’s favorite guitar players and native sons, is a Grammy-winning slack-key guitarist and composer. His 1996 recording, Christmas Is, gained popular acclaim for his enchanting instrumental takes on Christmas songs.

“My Christmas album was all slack key instrumentals,” Keawe says. “I’ll be playing some of those songs during the show, as well as some other Christmas songs that include my wife and grandkids singing and dancing hula. For me, Christmas is a family time. In fact, several of my Christmas songs were inspired by my grandkids. I overheard them wondering how Santa was going to get to the islands, so I wrote “Santa’s Coming Over the Rainbow.”

November/December 2014

Culinary Magic

Not to be outdone, Waikoloa Beach Resort’s many restaurants and talented chefs will be dishing up seasonal fare with Hawaiian touches over the next couple of months. At Hilton Waikoloa Village, the culinary magic kicks off with a grand Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 27. In addition to a carving station with turkey and prime rib of beef, patrons will be treated to a variety of island-style dishes such as five spice pork belly with coconut sticky rice, and pan-seared fresh island fish, along with a variety of locally flavored desserts such as chocolate macadamia nut pie.

At Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, special Christmas fare will be served both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On December 24, a Royal Luau is on tap, featuring delicious Hawaiian food including kalua pig fresh from the imu pit and holiday desserts. And at Hawaii Calls Restaurant, a Christmas dinner buffet will be offered both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, where a bountiful feast will include lamb chops, mahi mahi, prime rib, chilled jumbo shrimp, and egg nog cheesecake, along with other holiday treats.
“It’s always the right time of year to visit Waikoloa Beach Resort,” Head concludes. “But with the special entertainment we have planned and the unbeatable food at all of our restaurants, it’s hard to beat being here during the holidays.”

September/October 2014

The Gathering Place Of The Kohala Coast

The tagline for Waikoloa Beach Resort is “The Gathering Place of the Kohala Coast,” and it is well earned. With more shops, restaurants, concerts, sporting events, and cultural activities than anywhere else along the stretch of coastline from the airport to Kawaihae, there really is a lot going on at Waikoloa.

“Everything we do at Waikoloa Beach Resort is geared toward both enhancing the guest experience and supporting the local community,” says Scott Head, Vice President Operations. “Whether it be the many authentic cultural programs found here on a daily and weekly basis, or high-quality entertainment that comes in for special occasions, resort visitors and the Hawai`i Island community alike benefit.”

Among the many happenings at Waikoloa Beach Resort are:

CULTURAL EVENTS
Each week throughout the resort, numerous activities are offered that spotlight everything from Hawaiian culture — such as hula shows, ‘ukulele lessons, lei making lessons, and petroglyph tours — to local musicians, a Wednesday farmers’ market, and more. Family fun is emphasized with monthly movies under the stars and monthly concerts.

WHEEL… OF… FORTUNE
During the month of September, Wheel of Fortune, which reaches 28 million weekly viewers, will return to Waikoloa Beach Resort with its cast and crew of 270 to tape 20 episodes at Hilton Waikoloa Village. The shows will be divided into four themed weeks: “Wheel Goes Waikoloa,” “Best Friends,” “Hawaiian Adventure,” and “Second Honeymoon.” The episodes are slated to air in November and February.

AMERICA CONCERT
The renowned band known as America will grace the Grand Ballroom stage at Hilton Waikoloa Village on September 27 and play songs from their more than four-decade
catalogue of music. You can be sure they’ll crank it up with mega-hits “Horse with No Name,” “Ventura Highway,” “Sister Golden Hair,” and many more. This is one of several major concerts sponsored by Waikoloa Beach Resort, which over the past years have also featured marquee names such as Chicago and Earth Wind & Fire.

HAWAI`I FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
Hawai`i Island and Waikoloa Beach Resort hosted the opening night of the Hawaii Food & Festival on Friday, August 29. Themed “Aloha ‘Āina, Aloha Kai — Love of the Land, Love of the Sea,” the six-course sit-down gala dinner was held at Waikoloa Beach Marriott in partnership with Hilton Waikoloa Village. Participating chefs included Charles Charbonneau of the Hilton Waikoloa Village and Jayson Kanekoa of Waikoloa Beach Marriott, along with several visiting chefs from Hawai`i and the Mainland. “To have the Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival here at Waikoloa Beach Resort is a true testament to our resort’s commitment to the culinary culture of the island,” said Chef Charbonneau. “Not only does this event showcase the bounty of local produce, meats and seafood, but it raises money for some very worthwhile causes.” Last year, for example, the Festival raised more than $200,000 for local beneficiaries committed to sustainability and cultural and educational programs in Hawai`i.

TASTE OF THE RANGE
On September 26, the 19th Annual Taste of the Hawaiian Range and Agricultural Festival will be held at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Thirty of the state’s top chefs will converge on Waikoloa Beach Resort to prepare dishes using pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb, goat, and wild boar; along with a cornucopia of fresh island fruit, veggies, honey, spices, and beverages. While “tasting,” attendees can meet Hawai`i’s food producers and talk story with the ranchers and farmers who make a living growing our food. They can also enjoy exhibits related to local agriculture and healthy foods.

THE GREAT WAIKOLOA CANOE RACE
Hosted by the Waikoloa Canoe Club, the 12-mile Great Waikoloa Canoe Race is one of outrigger canoe racing’s premier events on the Big Island. The 2014 race took place on August 23, staged in Anaeho‘omalu Bay. Canoe building and paddling are two of the more significant aspects of traditional Hawaiian culture, and this race gives both the local community and visitors to the island a chance to see and interact with dedicated paddlers whose stated mission is “to strengthen family and community relationships, improve ourselves both mentally and physically, help eliminate social differences, create positive interdependence, and help preserve local customs and traditions by perpetuating the sport of outrigger canoe racing.”

SWINGIN’ WITH THE TOMMY DORSEY ORCHESTRA
“It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing,” Duke Ellington once said. On August 17, the Waikoloa Beach Marriott sponsored the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in their Naupaka Ballroom, and the community came out to swing and dance to the tunes of one of the greatest big bands of the Swing Era. Presented by the Kahilu Theater, this jumping night of live music featured 25 musicians, singers, and dancers on stage, along with tributes to Benny Goodman, Harry James, and Artie Shaw. Hilo’s Hep Cats made a special appearance.

HAWAI`I ISLAND FESTIVAL— 30 DAYS OF ALOHA
This month-long celebration seeks to perpetuate the cultural traditions and aloha spirit of the Big Island through various signature and affiliated events. Among those held at Waikoloa Beach Resort in August were: Investiture at Anaeho‘omalu Bay; the Ms. Aloha Nui 2014 Pageant, honoring the “beautiful, boldest, and large” women of Hawai`i; the ever-popular Poke Contest; and the amazing Kindy Sproat Falsetto Concert, this year honoring the late Pua Garmon, the event’s longtime and beloved chairperson who recently passed away. Suffice to say, there’s always something happening at Waikoloa Beach Resort … “The Gathering Place of the Kohala Coast!”

September/October 2014

Tropics Ale House

Waikoloa Beach Resort welcomes its newest restaurant, Tropics Ale House, which opened for business in August in the space formerly occupied by Buzz’s Sand Trap. Guests will find 24 craft brews on tap — including a nice selection of West Coast and local IPAs — eight rotating on a regular basis, along with what managers Sergio Ellis and Brian Flynn promise will be “the best pizza on the Kohala Coast!” Alongside pizza, regular menu items such as sliders and ribs will be complemented by lunch and dinner specials. To-go orders are welcome (perfect for hotel guests) and several flat screens will be showing the days sports in a relaxed atmosphere overlooking the Beach Golf Course. Tropics is under the same ownership as Tropics Tap House in Honolulu, well known for its lively entertainment, jubilant atmosphere and popular pizza.

Located within Waikoloa Beach Resort (a right turn at the fifth stop sign), Tropics Ale House is open for Lunch and Dinner daily, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., with Happy Hour 3-6 p.m. Live entertainment is provided Friday and Saturday night, with breakfast and Bloody Mary bar offered during football season.

July/August 2014

Play Golf Like A Champion

Left: May working with 2005 U.S. Women's Open Champion Birdie Kim

As anyone who plays golf regularly knows firsthand, the game can be both fun and frustrating … often on the same hole. We buy new clubs, spend hours at the practice range, and try every new swing technique we see on the Golf Channel … all in the hopes of shaving a few precious strokes off our handicaps.

One of the most effective ways of improving your game is taking lessons from a PGA professional; better yet, a professional who has played on the PGA Tour. For guests at Waikoloa Beach Resort, other hotels and resorts on the island, as well as for residents of Hawai`i Island, that opportunity is coming your way during the month of July, as the Bob May Golf Academy takes up residence at the Kings’ Course from July 2 - 31.

May burst into the national golf spotlight at the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla. Though he had played on the 1991 Walker Cup team (with Phil Mickelson) and won the British Masters in 1999, it was at Valhalla that he really shone. There, he tied Tiger Woods — then in the midst of an historic year — at the end of 72 holes and the two played what has become a legendary three-hole playoff. Though Tiger prevailed, May’s determination, calm demeanor, and shot-making skills impressed golf enthusiasts around the world, and inspired Sports Illustrated’s Alan Shipnuck to write, “May played like a champion. Woods played like a god…”

Mickey Holden from The Golf Channel prepares to interview May before this year’s PGA Championship

It looked like a turning point for May, a Southern California native who played his collegiate golf at Oklahoma State University. Indeed, he had breakout years on the PGA Tour in 2000, 2001, and 2002. In addition to pushing Tiger to the brink at the PGA Championship, he won more than $2 million in prize money and finished in the top 25 more than 20 times during that span, raising him to the elite level of the PGA Tour.

Unfortunately, he says, “I injured my back at the Byron Nelson in 2003 and didn’t touch a club for more than two years.” He made a comeback in 2006/2007, finishing second once and in the top 10 several times, but the pinched nerves he experienced a few years earlier and the nagging pain that ensued never really allowed him to compete at the level he knew he was capable of on a consistent basis. “Plus,” he says, “my kids were getting a little older and my focused shifted to them. I wanted to change my quality of life.”

Kim and hugging it out with Tiger Woods at the 2000 PGA Championship

The decision to start a golf academy and share his insights into the swing and the mental side of the game came to him one day on the practice range in his hometown of Las Vegas. “A buddy of mine who owned the course said, ‘You should open a golf academy,’” he says. So with his friend, Jeff Gallagher, another PGA Tour standout, he did just that. “I used to travel in a big bus when on Tour,” May says, “and Jeff used to travel with me quite a bit.”

The two traveling buddies launched the Bob May Golf Academy in 2012, with two locations now open in Las Vegas. As to his teaching philosophy, May says he learned a lot from the golf professional from whom he took lessons as a kid, Eddie Merrins. Affectionately known as “Little Pro,” Merrins espouses a method he calls “Swing the Handle” that is widely praised. “As a tour player, I don’t want to hear the swing goes here to there,” said Fred Couples. “I mean Swing the Handle, how much simpler can it get?”

But in addition to teaching swing mechanics, May equally emphasizes the mental side of the game. “I learned so much from Little Pro,” he says, “I was always thought of as a non-emotional player, but that’s what Little Pro taught me. He said he shouldn’t be able to tell if I was playing good or bad … you don’t want to be on an emotional roller coaster on the golf course.

“Getting nervous is natural, but it’s what you do with it that makes a difference. I’ve played in all the majors, and so I’m personally familiar with all the emotions that someone can have on a golf course. If you are properly prepared and emotionally in check, then you are ready to play your best and reach your goals. Winning a golf tournament is not the goal; winning a tournament is the reward for reaching your goals.”

Private, one-on-one lessons with Bob May for adults, juniors, and couples, as well as all-day clinics, all with “Trackman” performance analysis, can be scheduled by calling (702) 595-1950 (Las Vegas). Discounted package rates for multiple lessons with the same golfer are also available. See waikoloagolf.com for details

So while you may not be in a playoff with Tiger Woods anytime soon, nor playing against the best players in the world on the PGA Tour, May’s teaching philosophies can help you become a better player and reach your goals, whether those goals include breaking 100 for the first time or breaking 80 for the first time.

“I’m hoping to bring my knowledge of the game not only to the locals on the Big Island, but to guests of Waikoloa Beach Resort,” May says. “I feel very fortunate to have played at the highest levels of the game. But for me it is equally rewarding to be able to share my knowledge and give back to the game that has given so much to me.”

Spoken like a true champion.

July/August 2014

Wheel of Fortune

Wheel of Fortune, reaching 28 million weekly viewers as America’s top-rated game show, makes a triumphant return to Hawai`i to tape on the Big Island for the program’s 32nd season. Featuring footage captured on-island, in September, the 20 episodes will fall into four themed weeks: “Wheel Goes Waikoloa,” “Best Friends,” “Hawaiian Adventure,” and “Second Honeymoon.” The arrival of the 270-person cast and crew to Hilton Waikoloa Village and Waikoloa Beach Resort marks the fifth time Wheel of Fortune has taped in Hawai`i since 1996. The episodes are set to air weeknights in November and February on KHON2 in Hawai`i, and on 210 syndicated stations on the mainland.

May/June 2014

A Festival of Culinary Delights

Memorable cuisine adds greatly to a memorable vacation, and in Hawai`i, dining is one of the true pleasures of your stay.

For guests staying in Waikoloa Beach Resort, there are more than 30 dining options scattered throughout the resort, serving everything from deliciously prepared and exceedingly fresh seafood to pizzas and burgers to local-style barbecue to ethnic favorites. Venues range from sit-down meals in scenic settings, to grab-and-go snacks and fast food for busy schedules.

Four years ago, to celebrate the excellence and diversity of Hawai`i’s cuisine, two of the Aloha State’s most prominent chefs, Roy Yamaguchi (Roy’s Restaurants) and Alan Wong (Alan Wong’s Restaurants), launched the Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival. Noted for bringing together the “who’s who” of internationally acclaimed master chefs, master sommeliers and top-tier winemakers from Hawai`i, the mainland U.S., Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan, this year’s Festival takes place August 29 – September 7.

The big news for Hawai`i Island this year is that the opening night of the Festival (Friday, August 29) will be held at Waikoloa Beach Resort. Themed “Aloha ‘Āina, Aloha Kai — Love of the Land, Love of the Sea,” the six-course sit-down gala dinner is being held at Waikoloa Beach Marriott in partnership with Hilton Waikoloa Village.

“With strong support from Hawai`i’s hospitality and visitor industry, the Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival is able to continue to expand to our neighbor islands,” says Roy Yamaguchi. “We hope to bring the Festival and our celebrity chefs to all of the major Hawaiian Islands by 2016 to benefit the Hawai`i’s culinary and agricultural community statewide.”

“With more than half of the agricultural lands in Hawai`i on Hawai`i, the Big Island, there will certainly be a diversity of local products for our chefs to choose from,” says Alan Wong. “With local beef, coffee, abalone and kampachi sourced from Hawai`i Island, we look forward to seeing some great innovation and creativity from our guest chefs.”

“To have the Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival here at Waikoloa Beach Resort is a true testament to our resort’s commitment to the culinary culture of the island,” says Hilton Waikoloa’s Chef Charbonneau. “Not only will this event showcase the bounty of local produce, meats and seafood, but it raises money for some very worthwhile causes.” Last year, for example, the Festival raised more than $200,000 for local beneficiaries committed to sustainability and cultural and educational programs in Hawai`i. Charbonneau says he also relishes the opportunity to work with other chefs, and points out that several of his kitchen mates that evening were born and raised on Hawai`i Island, giving the event a very authentic flavor.

Chef Kanekoa of Waikoloa Beach Marriott, for example, was born and raised near Waipio Valley on the northeastern shore of the Big Island. Kanekoa says his love of cooking “Hawaiian inspired” foods and flavors comes from his grandfather, a taro farmer who made his own poi. “It’s great to be able to share the foods that I grew up eating with visitors from around the world,” he says.

Among the visiting chefs, Sheldon Simeon, executive chef at MiGrant restaurant on Maui, says he had so much fun at last year’s festival that it was a no-brainer to participate again. “Plus,” he says, “being born and raised on Hawai`i Island, I was very excited to take part in the Friday night dinner. My cooking is influenced by my Filipino heritage. That’s what is super-cool about growing up in Hawai‘i … if you grew up here, you have a sophisticated palette, even if you don’t realize it. You’re familiar with cuisines from all over the Pacific … Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese … all the foods we grew up with. What I’ll be contributing at the Food & Wine Festival dinner is something with a Filipino influence…I guarantee you that!”

Pomaski, who own Full Moon Café in Hilo, are first-time participants in the Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival. They too grew up on Hawai`i Island, and though both eventually left for the mainland, taking separate paths to culinary success, they moved back to Hilo last October. “My brother always says this island is like a pantry for us,” says Mark. “We buy our fish locally, and as much of our produce locally, as well. And, we integrate ourselves into the community, something I learned when working for Roy Yamaguchi. You have to give back.”

The Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival is the perfect opportunity for these talented chefs, emerging and renowned alike, to give back to the Hawai`i Island community, while at the same time showcasing the creative cuisine that helps makes Hawai`i such a special place to visit.

May/June 2014

Lavaman 2014

On Sunday, March 30, nearly 1,000 athletes gathered at Waikoloa Beach Resort to compete in the 2014 Lavaman triathlon. The event, which consists of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer ride and a 10-kilometer run, is considered one of Hawai`i’s premiere races, drawing entrants from around the world.

This year’s overall female winner was Magali Tisseyre (33) from Victoria, British Columbia; and overall male winner was Tim Marr (35) from Honolulu. Highlighting the age diversity of the athletes, a total of seven competitors were ages 70 and older, with two aged 79.

More than 150 keiki aged 5-14 showed up at Anaeho’omalu Bay on Saturday, March 29, to compete in the LavaKids Aquathon, with 9-year-old Henry Eggers of Cheyenne, Wyoming, taking first place in the boys division; and 8-year-old Jada Keen of Kailua- Kona taking the girls title. This popular swim/run competition has taken place adjunct to Lavaman for 13 years, and race director Gerry Rott has recently announced plans to expand the scope of LavaKids significantly, offering year-round programs for kids to “take control of their own health.”

March/April 2014

DREAMY DAYS, STARRY NIGHTS

Hawai`i is considered one of the most romantic places on earth, and Waikoloa Beach Resort is no exception. The year-round 80-degree weather, temperate swimming waters, gentle trade winds, and swaying palm trees are the perfect spot for a destination wedding, and enough to tempt couples back year after year for their wedding anniversaries, special occasions and annual fun-in-the-sun vacations. At Waikoloa Beach Resort, Hawai`i’s natural attractions are enhanced with an unbeatable array of amenities ranging from golf to world-class dining to luxuriant spas to shopping for unique items from original artwork to tropical chic fashions.

“It is so easy to relax and reconnect with your loved one here at Waikoloa Beach Resort,” says Scott Head, Vice President of Resort Operations. “Guests can fill their days with shared activities such as bike riding, snorkeling and standup paddle boarding, or seek out secluded corners to quietly while away their time in paradise. Whether they are looking for the perfect romantic dinner or that special gift, guests to Waikoloa Beach Resort have unlimited choices and will easily find what they are looking for.”

PARADISE WEDDINGS

Waikoloa Beach Resort has also proven to be an ideal spot for a destination wedding. At Hilton Waikoloa Village, for example, four outstanding wedding locations are available, including Hale Aloha, a Plantation-style chapel with ocean views and doors and windows that open up to let the warm breezes blow through. Koa wood furnishings and a lovely stained glass picture window add gracious Hawaiian touches to the ceremony. “Waikoloa is a very special place to have a wedding,” says Ms. Robin Paulos, Catering Manager at Hilton Waikoloa Village. “In addition to the amazing location, it is our goal to ensure that every aspect of your special day happens exactly as you dreamed it would. We will prepare your favorite dishes, serve your favorite libations ... you name it and we are at your service.”

At the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, guests can choose from a number of very attractive wedding packages, or create a completely customized event that speaks to their specific needs and desires. Included in every package are the basics: wedding site, minister, flower lei (a must in Hawai`i!), music, and upgraded accommodations for the bride and groom’s entire stay. Add-ons to wedding packages can include champagne, cake service, additional flowers, cheese platters, and a stay in the resort’s luxurious Cabana Suite on the wedding night.

Mr. Enoch A’ana of Pele’s Wedding & Events is the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa’s wedding and events partner. His passion to create the perfect wedding makes for very satisfied couples. “We’re excited about every element,” he says, “from the way the tables are set, to the moment you enter as bride and groom, to your final farewell.”

Lava Lava Beach Club can also provide an ideal destination for a worry-free dream wedding or honeymoon; a fun, beachfront venue to say “I Do,” then dine, drink, celebrate, and revel in the laidback luxury of one of four contemporary Hawaiian cottages while getting some sand between your toes!

MAGICAL MOMENTS

Couples don’t have to be getting married to find the romance of Waikoloa Beach Resort. Depending on shared interests, anything from a late afternoon round of golf to a long sunset stroll on the beach followed by a candlelit dinner can make for a very romantic experience.

Here are some suggestions on ways to make YOUR vacation at Waikoloa Beach Resort more romantic:

There are dozens of romantic ways to spend your dreamy days and starry nights at Waikoloa Beach Resort … make your Hawaiian vacation time special!

Visit WaikoloaBeachResort.com for information and updates on golf, dining, and other opportunities throughout the resort.

March/April 2014

Cocktail at Lava Lava Beach Club

Order your favorite cocktails, kick off your shoes, and dig your toes in the sand, and a smile immediately comes to your face. That’s a surefire recipe for a romantic experience. You can do just that with your loved one at Lava Lava Beach Club, where tables are set up in the sand close enough to hear the splashing waves of the ocean. Stay for dinner under the stars and your evening will be complete.

March/April 2014

Late afternoon round of Golf

If you and your significant other enjoy playing golf together, sign up for a late afternoon tee time on the Beach Course. The crowds and the heat of the day will be past, and what you’ll have instead is a leisurely stroll in the park, in idyllic light and temperature, with a colorful sunset and breaching whales.

photo courtesy of Waikoloa Village Beach Resort Golf

March/April 2014

Table 12 at Roy’s

Everyone has their favorite dish at Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill at Kings’ Shops, from locally caught and expertly prepared fish dishes to locally sourced farm fresh vegetables, all bearing the trademark European sauces and spicy Asian flavors that have made Roy Yamaguchi one of Hawai`i’s most respected chefs. To make your dinner even more romantic, ask for table 12, located in the back corner of the restaurant with windows on all sides looking out upon the serene lake behind Kings’ Shops.

photo courtesy of Waikoloa Village Beach Resort

Shoreline walk along ‘Anaeho’omalu Bay

This expansive stretch of white sand beach that fronts the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is a great place to spend a romantic day. Activities here include snorkeling in protected waters, windsurfing and standup paddle boarding, swimming, or enjoying quiet hours doing nothing more strenuous than reading a book. Behind the beach are two ancient Hawaiian fishponds that once served Hawaiian royalty, and a walking trail follows the coastline to the neighboring Hilton Waikoloa Village, passing tide pools, ponds, and a turtle sanctuary where green sea turtles can often be spotted sunbathing on the sand.

photo courtesy of Waikoloa Village Beach Resort

Champagne Sunset Sail

There’s no better way to end a day than with a sunset cruise with Ocean Sports along the beautiful Kohala Coast on a power catamaran. Their Paniolo Barbeque Buffet is included in the cruise and includes BBQ ribs, fried chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, green salad, guava dinner rolls, and dessert — all prepared by an award-winning local chef. Sip on beverages from their complimentary open bar featuring island brews on tap, the Captain’s Signature Cocktails, and refreshing tropical juices. Toast the elusive Green Flash with Champagne at sunset - a perfect end to an island day.

photo courtesy of Waikoloa Village Beach Resort

Sunset Romantic Dinner at Buddha Point

Let the skilled staff of Hilton Waikoloa Village set up a special oceanfront table for you overlooking a colorful sunset at Buddha Point. The Red Sunset option includes a chef’s tableside preparation of chilled crab and avocadotini with cognac aioli; and butter poached cold water lobster tail with grilled Angus tenderloin among other delicacies.

photo courtesy of Hilton Waikoloa Village

January/February 2014

GOLF’S FUTURE STARS SHINE AT WAIKOLOA KINGS’ JAN| FEB 2014

When Jordan Spieth teed it up as part of the U.S. Presidents Cup team in October, it showed clearly that he had reached an elite level among the world’s best golfers. When you consider that 2013 was his rookie season on the PGA Tour — a season that saw him win once and net nine top-10 finishes out of 23 events played Chips— Spieth’s status among the stars of the sport is that much more amazing.

But it was only two years ago that Spieth and his Texas Longhorns were competing in the annual Amer Ari Tournament at Waikoloa Beach Resort. One of collegiate golf’s most important tournaments, many participants in this event have gone on to successful careers on the professional tours and throughout golf. Past medalists include some of today’s best-known PGA Tour stars, including Notah Begay (Stanford, 1994), Matt Kuchar (Georgia Tech, 1999 and 2000), and Anthony Kim (Oklahoma, 2004).

In February, you can see golf’s future stars up close and personal as they tackle the Waikoloa Kings’ Course, when the Amer Ari returns for its 24th playing (February 5 – 8, 2014). A total of 20 teams are scheduled to participate this year, including seven of the top 25 ranked teams in the U.S. Golf fans will get a chance to see No. 2-ranked Georgia Tech — led by No. 1-ranked NCAA player Ollie Schniederjans — along with No. 3-ranked Oklahoma State, No. 11-ranked Stanford University, and No. 15-ranked UCLA. This year’s field is among the best of any tournament in the country.

“We are proud to have the Amer Ari played on the Big Island,” says Earl Tamiya, men’s head golf coach at the University of Hawai`i Hilo, which is the tournament host. “It’s a chance to see some of golf’s brightest young stars in action.”

The Kings’ Course has proven to be an ideal layout on which to contest the Amer Ari over the years. Requiring a combination of length to handle the 7,074-yard tournament tees and accuracy to avoid the lava rock out-of-play areas and yawning bunkers, even the most accomplished players can have their hands full. And then there are the ever-present trade winds that are so typical of Hawai`i golf.

“The public is welcome to come watch the action,” says Kevin Ginoza, head golf professional at Waikoloa Beach Resort. “It will be interesting to see how these talented collegiate golfers handle the challenges of the Kings’ Course, particularly if we get some wind.

“But one of the other great things about the tournament being played at Waikoloa Beach Resort is that resort guests can play the same course,” Ginoza says. Designed by the renowned team of Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, Ginoza says, “The Kings’ Course demands respect and delivers reward. It’s got the length and the trade winds to protect par, and delivers the right mix of tough challenge and exciting play for a great day of golf.”

Resort guests also enjoy the Beach Course, an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr. design that winds its way past historic petroglyph (Hawaiian rock carvings) fields, and through dramatic lava formations before emerging at the signature ocean side 7th hole. The 7th green sits on a lava peninsula, framed by a sweet curve of coconut palms, while waves crash on the rocks below to send sea spray billowing into the air. In whale season, it’s not uncommon to spot the spouts and splashes of humpback whales as they breech and slap the surface, or spinner dolphins playing just offshore.

At just more than 6,500 yards from the back tees, the Beach Course is a fun and scenic round of golf for all players…and just perfect for budding Jordan Spieths!

Annually ranked as one of the best golf resorts in the United States by the national publications, Waikoloa Beach Resort offers everything a golfer — or a golf fan — could ever want.

November/December 2013

BIG ISLAND BOUNTY

A traditional lū‘au includes an imu pig, shown being removed from the earthen oven where it is cooked. The lū‘au tradition in Hawai`i dates back almost 200 years. When first introduced by King Kamehameha II in 1819, it represented a complete break with ancient Hawaiian custom which saw men and woman eat their meals separately, and commoners and women of all ranks were forbidden to eat certain delicacies.

But in 1819, Kamehameha II abolished many of the “outdated” traditional religious practices, and to symbolize this break with the ancient ways, he brought men, women and ali‘i together for a regal feast, and the lū‘au was born.Today’s lū‘au are often spectacular affairs with Polynesian music, chanting and dancing, and of course bountiful plates of food. One of the best examples of the traditional lū‘au that resort guests can experience is found at Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

“Our Sunset Luau is definitely traditional,” says Chef Jayson Kanekoa. “We do an imu pig that goes into the ground at 8:45 am and comes out at 5:45 in the afternoon… plus traditional poke and poi as well as comfort foods.” (Waikoloa Beach Marriott is renowned for their poke, having won first prize in the annual Great Waikoloa Poke Contest for three years running.) Following dinner, the Sunset Luau presents a Polynesian review during which guests enjoy traditional songs and dances from Hawai`i and elsewhere in the Pacific.

Born and raised near Waipio Valley on the north shore of the Big Island, Kanekoa says his love of cooking “inspired Hawaiian” foods and flavors comes from his grandfather, a taro farmer who made his own poi. “It’s great to be able to share the foods I grew up eating with visitors from around the world,” he says.

TASTES OF THE WORLD

In addition to excellent lū‘au, the cuisine of the islands offers a great diversity, reflecting the many peoples and cultures who have migrated to Hawai`i over the years. At Waikoloa Beach Resort, visitors can find authentic Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Italian cuisines among others, as well as a very popular and unique blending of local ingredients with traditional American preparations aptly called Hawai`i Regional Cuisine.

In all, Waikoloa Beach Resort features close to 30 different dining options, from sitdown meals in scenic settings, to grab-and go snacks and fast foods for busy schedules; from juicy burgers in the Kings’ Grille after a round of golf, to an aromatic cup of coffee enjoyed during a morning stroll. Some of Hawai`i’s best-known and well-established chefs have eateries at Waikoloa Beach Resort, including Roy Yamaguchi (Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill), Peter Merriman (Merriman’s Mediterranean Café), and D.K. Kodama (Sansei Seafood, Steak & Sushi Bar).

“At Ippy’s Hawaiian Barbecue,” Aiona says, “we serve a traditional Hawaiian plate lunch. It’s a mix of food from all the different cultures that came to Hawai`i… foods I grew up with on the Big Island. We have Korean chicken, teriyaki beef, plantation-style beef stew…a mix of what plantation workers would have eaten, but dressed up a bit by me. And yes, we serve two scoops mac, one scoop rice,” he says, referring to the beloved side dishes of the traditional plate lunch in Hawai`i.

Aiona’s second eatery at Waikoloa Beach Resort is The Three Fat Pigs Restaurant and Gastropub. “A ‘gastropub’ is a place for us younger chefs to cook creatively, offer a great selection of craft beers, and do it in a fun setting,” Ainoa says. “At Three Fat Pigs the menu changes all the time, depending on what’s seasonal and local. We also have a big selection of craft beers from Maui Brewing, Kona Brewing, Sierra Nevada and elsewhere. It is really a place for me to share what I know about food and have fun doing it!”

BAREFOOT & HUNGRY

At the beachfront Lava Lava Beach Club you can get some sand between your toes and enjoy lunch or dinner prepared by the same folks who have been pleasing visitors and locals alike for many years at Kona’s renowned Huggo’s. Surrounded by swaying coconut trees and tropical trade winds, Lava Lava features fresh fish tacos and burgers as well as Chef Jeff Readman’s creative preparations of steak, Hawaiian seafood and more.

“Lava Lava is an absolutely perfect spot for a restaurant,” Readman says. “The water is right there in front of you. We’re a casual, fish tacos type of restaurant during the day, but more fine dining during the evening…even though you can still come in with no shoes and no shirt. In that regard, it’s unique in the state…the only four walls are in the kitchen…everything else is open to the outdoors.”

With a dinner menu that includes everything from hukilau chowder to ahi burgers to lobster tails, Lava Lava sources as much as they can locally. “The ingredients we find on-island are some of the best I’ve ever seen anywhere,” Readman says. “The lettuce, seafood, beef, mushrooms…it is all wonderful, and cooking with such fresh ingredients is a treat.”

A special beer dinner is planned (Nov. 9) with suds from the Big Island Brewhaus, and Readman says they are working on a series of wine dinners too.

RESORT FARE EXTRORDINAIRE

Over at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, in addition to a popular, thrice-weekly lū‘au , seven dining options range from the Lagoon Grill (casual dining overlooking frolicking dolphins in the Dolphin Lagoon) to Kamuela Provision Company, a Pacific view sit-down dinner restaurant where steaks and fresh seafood are featured along with a Wine Spectator-awarded wine list. For a great breakfast buffet with a lagoon view, Big Island Breakfast at Water’s Edge is the popular choice, and after a day of fun, several tempting options await you for dinner, including Dona & Toni’s Pizza, Imari Teppan & Sushi, and Kirin Chinese.

November/December 2013

SUNSET LUAU

The beachfront Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is the place to be for a taste of Hawaiian cultural offerings at the new Sunset Luau. Billed as Hawaii Island’s most authentic luau show at sunset, the entertainment takes guests on a journey to Tahiti, New Zealand, Samoa and Hawaii through the songs and dances of these Pacific Island cultures, including the spellbinding Samoan fire knife dancing. It is a spectacular sight against the dazzling backdrop of the picturesque sunsets over ‘Anaeho‘omalu Bay.

Held every Monday and Wednesday at the resort’s Luau Grounds

The Sunset Luau includes:

Traditional ceremony to unearth the imu (underground oven) to reveal the Kalua Pig that will be enjoyed during dinner

General seating prices are $102 (without taxes) for adults and $48 for children 6-12 years old. Keiki five years old and under will attend for free.

Premier seating includes preferred first row seating, lei greeting and Hawaiian pupu (appetizer) for an additional $25 per seat.

Rates are inclusive of gratuity and are plus tax. Subject to change without notice.

Tickets: Tickets can be purchased from 4pm on Monday and Wednesdays at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa concierge desk. Seating begins at 5:00 p.m. Large parties are advised to arrive at the Luau Grounds early accommodate group seating. For more information or to make reservations, please call 808.886.8111 or visit sunsetluau.com.

November/December 2013

WEDDING EXPO 2013

Saturday, Nov. 16, Noon - 8 pm

All the latest trends and fashions in weddings will be on display at the Wedding Expo 2013, including renowned designers Haku Formals (Hilo), Attractions (Kona) and Manuheali`i (Honolulu), plus 40 other vendors.

September/October 2013

In Tune with the Islands

Music and dance tell you as much about the people, culture, and traditions of a place as any guide book ever could. When you hear mariachis serenading, you understand something about the romanticism of Mexico; likewise, the swinging beat of ragtime jazz clues you in to the festive, rollicking mood of New Orleans.

In Hawai`i, it is the hula dancers, ukulele and guitar players, and the falsetto singers who reflect the cultural depth and poetic soul of the Hawaiian Islands. At Waikoloa Beach Resort, the beautiful sounds and sights of island-style music and dance are seen and heard every day of the year.

“You can be sitting poolside at one of the resorts, strolling through our shopping centers, or enjoying a meal... chances are an authentic Hawaiian musician or dance troupe will be there to entertain you,” says Scott Head, Vice President of Resort Operations. “There are also special performances throughout the year where we bring in bands such as Chicago for our guests and the local community. We believe music and dance are relaxing, entertaining for the entire family, and often educational, too. That’s why providing high-quality local entertainment for our guests is a priority throughout the resort.”

World-Class Musicians

John Keawe is a perfect example of a well- known local musician who enjoys sharing his talents with Waikoloa Resort guests. A Hawaiian musician and slack key guitar player from Hawi in the North Kohala district of the Big Island, Keawe has toured throughout Hawai‘i and the Mainland U.S., but says he particularly relishes his regular Tuesday evening (7 pm) performances on Center Court Stage at the Kings’ Shops. “My passion since the 1970s has been to write songs and use the Hawaiian slack key,” Keawe says. “My songs are very reflective of life on the Big Island. When people hear me sing — particularly on songs such as “The Big Island…Is My Home” — I hope they get just a little better understanding of what a special place the Big Island is.”

On the first, second, and fifth Wednesdays of each month (7 pm), Hula dancers are entertaining, but reflect the deeper cultural roots of the Islands. Kahulanui (The Big Dance) performs on Center Court Stage at Kings’ Shops to the delight of listeners. A four-man band, Kahulanui’s music is inspired by three generations: from grandfather Robert Kahulanui Naipo, to dad Rodgers L.L. Naipo Sr., to grandson and Kahulanui band leader, Lolena Naipo Jr. Lolena remembers the stories his grandfather would tell of being a member of the Royal Hawaiian Band during an era when horns and drums were a part of Hawaiian music, a style which influences his playing today.

The Poetry of Hula

Hula dance has become beloved around the world. But there’s nothing quite like experiencing a hula performance in its birthplace of Hawai`i. Stop by Kings’ Shops any Friday afternoon around 6 pm and you will find a talented local halau (troupe) showcasing their talents. Aulani’s Hula Halau (who also perform at Queens’ MarketPlace) showcase their talents on the third and fifth Fridays of each month; while Na Kamali`i O Kona Halau performs on the first Friday of each month; and Halau Waiau performs on the fourth Friday of each month.

“The resort is a nice forum for our youngsters,” says Lani Isaacs, executive director of ‘Alohi Polynesian Dance Academy, whose halau performs on Fridays at Queens’ MarketPlace. “They study the art of hula during the week, and when they get to perform what they know it is truly an educational experience. I tell my audiences that I hope they truly experience the essence of Hawai`i while they are here, and we want to show that there is more to hula than what is depicted in Hollywood movies. The hula is an art ... it is not just coordinating hand and foot movements ... it is a discipline. What makes the hula different than other dance disciplines is that it is a study of our language, our history, our traditions ... our dancers are perpetuating their culture through the hula.”

Queens’ MarketPlace comes alive with hula every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the center also features live music by local artists every third Saturday at the Coronation Pavilion (6 - 8 pm). A good family experience, the Coronation Pavilion offers hardscape and lawn seating and is conveniently located close to the Queens’ MarketPlace Ono Food Court, where you can find everything from pizza to Hawaiian barbecue to Subway sandwiches to ice cream.

“In 2013,” Head says, “the Queens’ MarketPlace decided to have monthly ‘mini- concerts’ in the Coronation Pavilion area to feature local groups from the Big Island that played different genres of music.” Indeed, there has been something for everyone to enjoy, from the soulful jazz music of Tropical Vibrations to the melodic vocals of Betsy Curtis; from a Bluegrass concert by Friends of Bluegrass to the hip-hop-contemporary style of Mystic Rythmz.

Concerts, Movies & More

But the entertainment at Waikoloa Beach Resort doesn’t stop with music and dance. Every fourth Saturday of the month, families gather for the ever-popular “Movie Under the Stars” night at Queens’ MarketPlace. This monthly event is free to the community and offers a safe outdoor setting for everyone to enjoy family friendly movies.

Hawaii Island Festivals 30 Days Of Aloha

Join us as we celebrate the Hawaiian culture with a fantastic mix of falsetto performances, food, and live entertainment. If you’re looking for a taste of “real Hawai`i,” this is your chance!

September/October 2013

Mealani’s Taste Of The Hawaiian Range

Hilton Waikoloa Village
Friday, October 4
6 - 8 pm

Grand Ballroom and Lagoon Lanai Dry-aged, 100 percent grass-fed beef—prepared using local produce and products—is what’s for dinner at the 18th Mealani’s Taste of the Hawaiian Range and Agriculture Festival. Thirty-five chefs are preparing a wide variety of succulent beef cuts—everything from tongue to tail—to wow attendees.

It’s all part of the culinary adventure at this annual event that showcases the Big Isle’s grass-fed beef industry while bringing together local ranchers, farmers, restaurateurs, and eager eaters to celebrate a bounty of locally produced food. Whether you’re a foodie, locavore, chef, rancher, farmer, aquaculturist, or just plain hungry, Taste of the Hawaiian Range has something for you.

September/October 2013

Happy HalloQueen!

Bring your family to Queens’ MarketPlace for some safe Halloween fun! Find our candy stations situated around the shopping center. Enjoy the music from our live DJ.

September/October 2013

Safe Halloween Fun

October 31
5pm- 7pm

Safe Trick or Treat throughout the center. The first 100 children to arrive will receive a trick-or-treat bag with candy from Kings’ Shops. At 6 pm The Great Barusky will perform Tricks N’ Treats, a magic show, which will be followed by a costume contest. FREE cotton candy and popcorn for all while supplies last.

September/October 2013

Dennis Rose Invitational

The University of Hawaii at Hilo will host selected NCAA Division II schools in the Annual Dennis Rose Invitational golf tournament at the Waikoloa Beach & Kings’ Courses. Open to the public.

July/August 2013

Weddings In Paradise

In the 1961 film, Blue Hawaii, Elvis Presley sang “The Hawaiian Wedding Song,” and millions of girls around the world swooned. What person in love could resist the sweetheart lyrics:

“This is the moment
I’ve waited for
I can hear my heart singing
Soon bells will be ringing
This is the moment
of sweet Aloha
I will love you longer than forever
Promise me that you will leave me never
Now that we are one
Clouds won’t hide the sun
Blue skies of Hawaii will smile
On this, our wedding day.”

These days, having a wedding in Hawai`i is easy, and particularly so at Waikoloa Beach Resort, where wedding specialists can assist with everything from booking the ideal location to catering your reception dinner, and everything in between.

At Hilton Waikoloa Village, four outstanding wedding locations are available, including the Hale Aloha, a Plantation-style chapel with ocean views and doors and windows that open up to let the warm breezes blow through. Koa wood furnishings and a lovely stained glass picture window add gracious Hawaiian touches to the ceremony.

“Waikoloa is a very special place to have a wedding,” says Robin Paulos, catering manager at Hilton Waikoloa Village. “In addition to the amazing location, it is our goal to ensure that every aspect of your day happens exactly as you dreamed it would. We will prepare your favorite dishes, serve your favorite wines ... you name it and we are at your service.”

Hilton Waikoloa Village offers quite a number of reception venues, indoors or out for any weather, and for parties of any size. Choose from four ballrooms — the circular Water’s Edge Ballroom is a popular choice because of its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a scenic waterfall — while more intimate gatherings might prefer a special table set up at the beautiful Buddha Point overlooking the Pacific or at the Hale Aloha Chapel lanai.

You can choose from a number of very attractive wedding packages at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott, or create a completely customized event that speaks to your needs and desires. Included in every package are the basics: wedding site, minister, flower lei (a must in Hawai`i!), music, and upgraded accommodations for the bride and groom’s entire stay. Add-ons to wedding packages can include champagne, cake service, additional flowers, cheese platters, and a stay in the resort’s luxurious Cabana Suite on the wedding night.

Mr. Enoch A’ana of Pele’s Wedding & Events is the Marriott’s wedding and events partner. His passion to create the perfect wedding makes for very satisfied couples. “We’re excited about every element,” he says, “from the way the tables are set, to the moment you enter as bride and groom, to your final farewell.

“Pele’s Wedding & Events will guide you through the entire process, helping you customize your ideal wedding package with all the best services. We’ll do everything required to make sure your special occasion is perfect and personalized to your every wish.”

The Marriott offers several excellent outdoor locations suited to morning, daytime, and sunset wedding ceremonies, the most popular location being the Kings’ Knoll, an intimate grassy lawn overlooking an ancient Hawaiian fishpond and the coconut palm fringed shores of ‘Anaeho’omalu Bay.

Lyndsey Beach is another coveted location for a wedding ceremony. A private sandy beach on the shores of an ancient Hawaiian fishpond, this location is perfect for a wedding ceremony of two to 80 people.

The newest venue at Waikoloa for a destination wedding is Lava Lava Beach Club, where a beachfront location makes for a smile-inducing toes-in-the-sand ceremony under majestic kiawe trees. For those who prefer to keep their high heels on, the club also offers a manicured Lava Lawn.

Receptions are also fun and easy here, as full catering is available through Paradise Gourmet Catering or, for smaller parties, ordering off the regular Lava Lava Beach Club restaurant menu. A few steps up the beach from the restaurant, four contemporary Hawaiian cottages can be booked, allowing newlyweds to slip quietly away for some much-needed private time after a full wedding day.

“Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially planning one at a destination you may not be familiar with,” says Jean Thompson, special events manager for Paradise Gourmet. “But rest assured ... we can handle all aspects of your event. We are committed to making your wedding day memorable and making sure every aspect is just perfect.”

July/August 2013

Family Fourth

Thursday, July 4, 12:30 - 9:30 pm

This fun-filled event at Queens’ MarketPlace will feature great entertainment, balloon sculpting, popcorn, cotton candy, the Zoo Choo, and lots of great family fun all day long. the fun begins at 12:30 pm, and continues throughout the day until the fireworks extravaganza at 8 pm. Wind down after the fireworks with relaxing music from Full Circle until 9:30 pm.

July/August 2013

22nd Annual Rubber Duckie Race

Thursday, July 4, 10 am - 6 pm
FREE entertainment, fun games and exciting contests from duck waddling to eating. the fun begins at 10 am with live entertainment, food booths and games. Adopt a duckie for a chance to win one of the many fantastic prizes. Race starts at 3 pm. A benefit for United Cerebral Palsy of Hawai`i.

July/August 2013

4th of July Spectacular

Thursday, July 4
Doors open at 5 pm;
Show starts at 5:15 pm Waikoloa Bowl at Queens’ Gardens

Waikoloa Bowl opens with the high energy of Vizion 20/20 at 5:15 pm. At 6:15 pm, get ready to boogie as Bump City takes the stage. Bring your beach chair or blanket and enjoy a free evening of music under the stars. the fireworks begin at 8 pm with a live accompaniment by Bump City.

Note: This is an alcohol- and drug-free event.

July/August 2013

Hawaii Bike MS - Go Big or Go Home!

Join us for our 5th annual ride! 2 days/115 miles cycling Event
Friday, August 2 through
Sunday, August 4
Registration: $30 Fee,
$300 Fundraising minimum,
Registration is on Friday, August 2. Each day starts and finishes at Waikoloa Beach Resort

Take a cycling journey through volcanic rock landscapes, breathtaking ocean views, paniolo ranches, and historical towns reminiscent of old Hawai`i. the sense of accomplishment that you’ll feel can only be matched by the difference you’ll be making in the lives of people affected by MS. Both days will cover parts of the ironman triathlon bike portion route — accumulating approximately 115 miles.
For more information or to sign up, call (808) 532-0808 or go online bikemshawaii.org.

July/August 2013

Family Golf Days

May – August
Starts daily at 3:30 pm

Enjoy 9 holes of golf on the Kings’ Course with your family. Juniors aged 6-17 play for $25 with complimentary rental clubs while adults are $50 with $25 rental clubs. tee times for these special rates begin at 3:30 pm daily.

For more information or to make a tee time call the golf shop at (808) 886-7888 or visit WaikoloaBeachGolf.com

July/August 2013

Lava Lava Beach Club

Lava Lava Beach Club restaurant, open for lunch and dinner, is popular for sunset cocktails, delicious dinners or fun family gatherings and Lava Lava Beach Club cottages include all the comforts of a private home, the convenience of a beach front hotel, and excitement of a (high-end) surf shack. Media is taking note. Articles about Waikoloa Beach Resort’s newest place to stay have been published in Out Magazine, Modern Luxury Hawaii, Sunset Magazine, the New York Times, TravelAge West, Fodor’s, and Seattle Gay News. Here is what the editor at TripStyler.com had to say: “I had a hunch I’d love Lava Lava Beach Club before I even arrived, based on the name and logo alone! ... my suspicions were correct — and then some. The cottages’ contempo-aloha interiors make you want to split your day between beach, bed, and shower.”

May/June 2013

5 Ways to Tell the Family What You Really Want for Father’s Day

Photo courtesy Hilton Waikoloa Village

Daddy, Pops, Father Man, Coach, Uncle, Gramps, Banker, Pest Controller, Mechanic, Mediator (with Mom), Taxi Driver, shoulder to cry on and sometimes rule-enforcer. You have a big job description, Dad, and don’t think we haven’t noticed. That’s why Waikoloa Beach Resort wants to help you enjoy this Father’s Day more than ever—your way. Chances are good that you don’t need any more coffee mugs, baseball caps or fishing gear, but how do you let the family know? Here are five simple tips to help give them the hint.

1. Get on the ball. Sneak a golf ball into your pants pocket on laundry day. It’s sure to get someone’s attention in the dryer. And to make sure they book the spectacular Beach Course or Kings’ Course at Waikoloa, use an indelible marker to write this number on the ball: 886-7888.2. Put on your puka pants. Wear your oldest, most raggedy board shorts or faded, worn-out aloha shirt. If somebody mentions it, sigh and say, “Yes, I know, but I just haven’t had time to go shopping for a new one.” Don’t know where to look? Here are some ideas: http://www.waikoloabeachresort.com/index.php/big-island-shopping3. Beach about it. Change your screen saver to a wistful ocean view, or make your ring tone sound like the surf. Absent-mindedly sing “White Sandy Beach” while you’re driving the kids to school. Shuffle through the garage for your snorkel and fins. And when they ask about it, just say, “I sure miss going to the beach with you guys.” Remember, one of the island’s favorite beaches, ‘Anaeho‘omalu, is easy to reach and a fun place to play—with plenty of free parking and lots of choices for snacks, beach supplies and cold drinks close by.4. Hunger games. At dinner time (after you compliment whatever’s on the table), say, “Wow, this is so delicious—it reminds me of the wonderful ________ we had at ________ !” (fill in the blanks with your favorite food and restaurant). Need a couple of suggestions? Check out these great choices for family dining: http://www.waikoloabeachresort.com/index.php/big-island-dining5. DIY. Do it like Frank Sinatra—your way! Book a mini family stay-cay at a Waikoloa Beach Resort condo, vacation home or hotel, and surprise them with a getaway weekend with all the amenities. Relax by the pool, dine out in style, splash in the ocean, meet your friends for a round of golf and treat yourself like the #1 Dad you really are.

Happy Father’s Day from Waikoloa Beach Resort!

May/June 2013

Don’t go home without it!

Top 7 must-have Big Island things to take home

Many a great Hawaii vacation includes a shopping list for friends and family back home. At Waikoloa Beach Resort on Hawaii, The Big Island, shopping is easy and fun—with so many stores, choices for every budget, a convenient resort shuttle and beautiful tropical surroundings just about everywhere you look. We’ve put together a list of suggestions, in no particular order, to help you get started on your shopping spree!

1. FOOD. Take a taste of Hawai’i home to share all year long—like world-famous Kona Coffee, available by the bag in 100% Kona, flavored blends and decaf varieties at Resort locations. Your co-workers will go nuts for fresh-roasted Hawaiian macadamia nuts too.

2. FASHION. Everybody loves vacation tee shirts, and you can do more, at Waikoloa Beach Resort’s fashionable selection of boutiques and clothing shops for men, women and children. Teens love surf wear; the little ones are big fans of colorful gecko shirts and shorts; moms and dads are always styling in aloha shirts and dresses. And did we mention slippers?

3. FINE ART. Capture memories of your dream Hawaii vacation in a stunning original work of art and make it a part of your home forever (or just eliminate the word). Visit our galleries for the wistful ocean-scape, the tropical still life or magnificent piece of sculpture that speaks to your heart—and have the experts ship home it for you.

4. FANCY BLING. Are you on your honeymoon? Celebrating a birthday, retirement or special anniversary? Find something that sparkles with the joy you feel today. Explore our Waikoloa Beach Resort jewelers for stunning selections in diamonds and fine gemstones, Tahitian pearls, designer originals and Hawaiian heirloom jewelry. Both Queens’ MarketPlace and Kings’ Shops shopping centers and Hilton Waikoloa Village have made-in-Hawaii jewelry for men and women that embrace the spirit of the islands.

5. GOLF. ‘Fore you forget, stop by the golf shop at Kings’ Course, and pick up a dozen balls or a logo visor for the golfer in your life.

6. BAGS & LUGGAGE. Fill up your luggage already? We can help! Kings’ Shops and Queens’ MarketPlace have stores that offer sturdy, island print bags and more, or pick up reusable Hawaii themed totes, great for taking home as gifts.

7. MADE IN HAWAII. For yourself, from the islands. Do yourself a favor and “shop local” to find that one special thing just for you, made here on the island, with aloha, by a local artisan. Touch the gleaming koa wood pens and picture frames. Toss a vivid batik pareau around your shoulders on a chilly day. Admire handcrafted Christmas ornaments in ceramic or shell. Feel the tropical breeze in Hawaii-made fragrances and bath products. Splurge on Island jewelry or special works by local artists and “live aloha” wherever you go.

May/June 2013

A Family Affair

Any vacation that involves a swimming pool is likely to please the little ones in the family. When waterslides are involved, so much the better. Add long stretches of white- sand beach, a warm ocean, and whales frolicking offshore during winter months, and you get a vacation that the entire family will thoroughly enjoy.

Such a place is Waikoloa Beach Resort, where two hotels and a host of condominium accommodations offer pools, places to splash and play, and easy access to the Pacific Ocean.

“Waikoloa was designed with kids and families in mind,” says Scott Head, Vice President of Resort Operations. “The vision of the developers more than 30 years ago was to create a place where families could spend quality time together, play together, and create lasting memories. We have preserved and enhanced that vision over the years, and we are very proud to offer such a variety of family experiences to our guests. Waikoloa is really very unique on Hawai`i Island, as it is in the entire state.”

At the Hilton Waikoloa Village, visitors will find one of the most distinctive water experiences in Hawai`i at Dolphin Quest. Whether you are simply enjoying lunch at the Lagoon Grill overlooking the dolphins playing in their lagoon, or participating in an actual dolphin encounter, the experience is thrilling. Several encounter programs are offered, ranging from a 10-minute introductory experience for toddlers (ages 2-4) to longer snorkel encounters for older kids and adults.

The Hilton also offers three freshwater pools, including one that features a popular 175-foot twisting waterslide…talk about keiki fun!

Next door at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, families can gather for the day at two meandering swimming pools, one of which includes a shallow, sandy-bottom kids area; while the other is where the waterslide is found. Or, you can stroll down to ‘Anaeho‘omalu Bay and the half-mile long swimming beach that fronts the hotel. On this protected beach, older kids can snorkel or ride boogie boards; or the whole family can sign up for glass- bottom boat rides, hydro-biking, or kayak adventures.

If your family enjoys playing golf together — or if you are looking for a great way to introduce your kids to the game — a special experience awaits at Waikoloa Kings’ Course. Called Family Golf Days, during the summer months (May through August), families can play the Kings’ Course after 3:30 p.m. for only $50 per adult and $25 for juniors including complimentary junior Nike rental clubs. One of the most scenic courses on the island, there’s no better way to spend a few hours playing together than on the Kings’ Course.

If sailing, scuba diving, or whale watching excursions are of interest, Ocean Sports has multiple locations around Waikoloa Beach Resort to get you going. This company has been specializing in family recreation on the Kohala Coast for more than 30 years. In addition to ocean excursions, they can also give you a lesson and get you set up on a stand-up paddleboard. “Every day is an adventure!” says Kay Brooks, director of sales and marketing for Ocean Sports. “Come and have your Big Island adventures with us!”

“The range of activities we offer is what sets us apart,” Head says. “From learning to dance the hula to playing a round of family friendly golf, from a trek through historic petroglyph fields to an ukulele lesson, Waikoloa Beach Resort offers something fun for everyone. You can even arrange a helicopter tour to fly over the lava flow at Kilauea…now that’s an experience everyone remembers.”

Once the sun sets, activities give way to entertainment. Both Hilton Waikoloa Village and Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa offer exciting luau several times a week, replete with great food and traditional Polynesian dancing and story-telling.

Plus, at the Kings’ Shops and Queens’ MarketPlace, live music, cultural shows, and entertainment is offered almost every night of the week. Movie nights are popular, as are free monthly concerts, and seasonal activities from Easter to Fourth of July to Christmas are celebrated with fun events and festivities.

“Waikoloa is a special place,” Head says. “Our primary goal is to provide families a retreat, a safe place where they can enjoy one another, enjoy the environment, and create memories that last forever. If we can do that, our guests will want to come back year after year.”

May/June 2013

Hawaiian Ukulele and Guitar

Kings’ Shops welcomes Hawaiian Ukulele and Guitar to its collection of luxury and boutique stores. Hawaiian Ukulele and Guitar offers some of the finest `ukuleles found on the island.

Founded in 2012 by Robert Yates, a local musician and luthier here on the Big Island of Hawai`i, Hawaiian Ukulele and Guitar is fast becoming the `ukulele shop of choice for many local players. By teaming up with fellow luthier Sam Li, Hawaiian Ukulele and Guitar is able to offer fine handcrafted instruments using only the finest solid tone woods and building them to exacting specifications and standards.

The guiding vision behind Hawaiian Ukulele and Guitar was to create a `ukulele and guitar shop for everyone from the most seasoned musician to the beginner. The shop offers fine handcrafted Hawaiian-style `ukulele and guitars made from the finest woods available, at a price that is still affordable to the average enthusiast, as well as more moderately priced instruments of high quality and playability, making the joy of music accessible to people of all ages.

May/June 2013

Lavaman Sunset 5K Run / Walk

The Lavaman Sunset 5K Run/Walk presented by Bike Works Beach & Sports took place at Waikoloa Beach Resort in March, with 205 entrants crossing the finish line. Ziggy Bartholomy of Hawi, Hawai`i was the overall and men’s division winner with a time of 19 minutes, 40 seconds. Gabe Dennison from Somerset, United Kingdom was the runner-up at 19 minutes, 53 seconds. In the women’s division, Robyn Noel from Victoria, British Columbia finished first with a time of 23 minutes, 21 seconds; followed by Renee Mevs of Waikoloa, Hawai‘i at 23 minutes 24 seconds.

It was an international field with runners/walkers from Brazil, British Columbia, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom participating, as well as 15 U.S. states, ranging from California and Oregon to New York and Alaska. A number of Big Island residents also participated. Of the finishers, 12 participants were under the age of 9, and four were over the age of 70.

May/June 2013

Charity Walk

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Hawai`i Lodging and Tourism Association’s annual Charity Walk. On May 11, hotels as well as other businesses in the hospitality industry come together for the sole purpose of giving back to the community. Last year $196,000 was raised and awarded to 48 Big Island organizations. The goal for 2013 has been set at $200,000. The epicenter of the Charity Walk will be at Queens’ MarketPlace on the beautiful Waikoloa Beach Resort. Registration will begin at 5:30 am - 7 am, with the race starting at 6:30 am and the walk at 7 am. The after party will include food stations presented by participating hotels and restaurants from various Waikoloa Beach Resort proper- ties. Emceeing the event will
be funny man Tony Sylva from the Braddahs and Friends and entertaining will be the one and only Anuhea.

March/April 2013

Celebrate the Spirit, Lavaman 2013

The Lavaman, attracting more than 1,500 triathletes, took the plunge into ‘Anaeho‘omalu Bay, with friends and family enthusiastically cheering them on. This exhilarating sports event charges up the whole resort, as top competitors complete the 1,500-meter ocean swim, 40K bike race and 10K run in championship times.

Chris Leito (41) a pro triathlete who lives part-time in Kona sped across the sandy home stretch to the finish first, at 1:53:55. First place female winner was Rebecca Sherlock (40) of Vancouver, B.C., with a time of 2:16:07.

Sports fans were treated to a new twist on Lavaman this year, as Hawaii’s own Sunny Garcia and BJ Penn vied for the mixed martial arts fighters’ division—which Garcia won by nearly 5 minutes. How exciting to have Hawaii Island’s very own Mayor Billy Kenoi finish his second Lavaman Waikoloa, at 3:37:47. Way to go, Mr. Mayor!

(photo by Hawaii Photoman)

March/April 2013

Fashion Splash, Egg Dash and Passion for Food

Spring is in the air at Waikoloa Beach Resort. Although the beautiful hibiscus, plumeria and birds of paradise are flowering year-round, the Spring season is the time of year when the stylish apparel shops at Queens’ MarketPlace add a splash of fashion showcasing the latest popular colors of this year’s spring season.

With so many shops to choose from, here are two locally-owned apparel stores to help get you started. Stylish chicks—and ducks and bunnies too—will find a great selection of dresses, tops, wraps, shoes and sweaters at Persimmon in Queens’ MarketPlace, with young Hawaii designs from Vitamin “A” to Fighting Eel, Seven for All Mankind, Tiare Hawaii and Vix. Their head-turning swimsuits and glamorous wraps will have you styling on the beach as well.

On the other side of the “springing fountains,” Exclusive Designs boutique is in bloom, with a great mix of top-brand aloha wear by Tori Richard, Bamboo Clay, Simply Silk and Princess Ka‘iulani, among others. Check out the new collection by East Hawaii Clothing Company, and browse for gifts, bags and sun bonnets (perfect for Easter or any time).

All dressed up and no place to go? No way! Dash over to Waikoloa Bowl on Saturday, March 30, and join the fun of our epic Egg Hunt on the lawn, with approximately 10,000 prize-filled eggs for a fun morning. Registration starts at the top of the Waikoloa Bowl at 9 a.m., and only keiki are allowed on the field, by age group, during the hunt. Egg Hunt will start at 10 a.m.

From 10 a.m. to 12 noon, bring the family and take your own photos with Pualani Cottontail at the Coronation Pavilion located at Queens’ MarketPlace. Pualani’s helpers will be there to share complimentary popcorn, cotton candy, and face-painting too from 9:30am – 12:30pm.

Hawaii Calls Restaurant and Lounge at the Marriott brings its brand of brunch to the table, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Starting with asparagus-crab soup and “honey bunny” rolls, they will add a “tempura Easter Basket & sushi bar” to the festivities in addition to New York cheesecake, cupcakes and an ice cream station. $60 adults, $25 children 6-12, kids 5 and under free. (808) 886-8111.

Splash into Spring at Waikoloa Beach Resort!

March/April 2013

Super ‘Ukulele Celebration

The 13th Annual Great Waikoloa ‘Ukulele Festival on Saturday, March 2, brought approximately one thousand fans of the little instrument with the big sound into Queens’ MarketPlace. Starting the annual festival was a free instructional class taught by noted teacher Roy Sakuma and his staff. Sakuma is the protégé of the world famous “Ohta-San” who also graced the stages with guitarist, Nando Suan. The fun day was filled with great Hawaiian music on two stages. Master of Ceremonies “Mr Aloha” Danny Kaleikini enchanted the crowd with ageless songs, and young ‘ukulele artists like Nick Acosta, Tamlyn Tamura, and You Tube star Aidan James, stole the show. One of the best highlights was when Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner Sean Na‘auao was joined by Auntie Aulani Young and her ohana for beautiful, impromptu hula with the band.

If you missed the ‘Ukulele Festival, you can still enjoy wonderful hula and Hawaiian music when you visit Waikoloa Beach Resort. Queens’ MarketPlace showcases three different hālau (troupes) three nights a week at the Coronation Pavilion, plus monthly “mini concerts” with some of the Big Island’s favorite entertainers, all complimentary. Kings’ Shops hosts free weekly performances on Center Stage, including slack-key master John Keawe, the big-band stylings of Kahulanui, folk artist Rob Decker, and keiki (children’s) hula on Aloha Friday. And, don’t forget our newest member of the family, Lava Lava Beach Club at ‘Anaeho’omalu Bay, with live Hawaiian music and hula every night!

March/April 2013

Shop ‘Til You’re Happy

You swam with the honu, watched in awe as migrating whales spouted and played in the waters offshore, you feasted like Hawaiian ali‘i, played the best round of golf of your life, and felt your heart soften as the sky turned a hundred shades of orange each day at sunset.

A trip to Hawai`i creates memories that last a lifetime, whether this is your first visit, or you’re a Big Island regular. Preserving those amazing memories of your travels, sharing them with friends and family back home, is in many ways just as important as the trip itself, because through them you are able to live the experience again and again.

There are many retail stores and specialty shops found around Waikoloa Beach Resort where you can find exactly the right gifts, souvenirs, and mementoes to help you do exactly that. Whether you’re looking for macadamia nuts, Kona coffee, aloha shirts and resort wear, original works of art, island-made jewelry, or a comfy new pair of “slippahs,” you’ll find something that fits the bill right around the corner.

“Waikoloa Beach Resort has more than just accommodations, great weather, and golf,” says Margo Harumi Mau Bunnell, sales and operations manager, “we also have fantastic shopping. From national brand name stores, to luxury goods, to a wide range of locally owned mom and pop shops, the Waikoloa shopping experience is one that everyone can enjoy.”

Two distinct shopping centers — Queens’ MarketPlace and Kings’ Shops — provide resort guests options…lots of options. Queens’ MarketPlace property manager Dawn Deehan lists the cornucopia of options: “We have it all, from groceries to great movies, bikinis to board shorts, t-shirts to tours, dolls to diamonds, hats to haircuts, sculptures to snorkels, bikes to boogie boards, a food court to fine dining, and frappuccinos to furniture. It’s really easy to have a great time at Queens’ MarketPlace.”

A must-visit Queens’ MarketPlace store is Island Gourmet Markets, where in addition to delicious packaged and prepared foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a wide selection of beer and wine, shoppers will find aisles packed with souvenirs and fun trinkets to take home with them.

Across the street from Queens’ MarketPlace is Kings’ Shops. “Resort guests will discover an extraordinary selection of luxury brand stores such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and Coach along with upscale boutique shops like Cinnamon Girl and Mary Jane’s, and famous retailers such as Tommy Bahama, Macy’s, and Maui Divers,” says Becky Ryan, marketing manager. “Our restaurant experiences range from excellent fine dining to delicious take out.

“Genesis Gallery is just one of the many exquisite galleries that present a lineup of international, national, and local artists in a variety of different mediums that are sure to impress even the most selective collector. Martin & MacArthur features the finest koa wood furniture and beautiful home accessories which are all made in Hawaii.

“In addition, our weekly Farmers Market offers locally-grown produce and flowers along with many one-of-a-kind gifts visitors can take home as souvenirs,” says general manager, Steve Schwartz.

Guests at Hilton Waikoloa Village and Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa will find shops close to their rooms or in their hotel lobbies; and golfers can shop at the Kings’ Clubhouse to take home logo items such as shirts and golf balls to commemorate their rounds on the Beach and Kings’ courses.

In this issue of Naupaka News, we introduce our new Shopping Guide (see pages 6), your roadmap to all the many wonderful shopping discoveries you can make at Waikoloa Resort. Enjoy!

March/April 2013

The 13th Annual Great Waikoloa `Ukulele Festival

Saturday, March 2, Noon - 7 pm
Queens’ MarketPlace

Queens’ MarketPlace hosts the Great Waikoloa `Ukulele Festival each year as a way of showcasing one of the state’s favorite and most unique instruments. This festival is a terrific opportunity for all ages to immerse themselves in an important aspect of Hawai`i’s culture by getting up close and personal with the `ukulele, learning how it is made, how to play one, and listening to songs played by talented artists.

March/April 2013

Spring Egg Hunt

Hey Kids! Come join in the fun at the Annual Waikoloa Spring Egg Hunt. Registration starts at the stage in the Waikoloa Bowl at 9 am.

March/April 2013

16th Annual Lavaman Triathlon Events

Friday, March 22 - Sunday, March 24
`Anaeho`omalu Bay

The 16th Annual Lavaman starts with a Sunset 5K run on Friday at Queens’ MarketPlace. The LavaKids event is on Saturday at `Anaeho`omalu Bay. On Sunday, come watch as 1,800 triathletes compete in this Olympic distance event starting at `Anaeho`omalu Bay, consisting of a one- mile swim, 25-mile bike ride and 10K run.

March/April 2013

Arts Under the Stars

Second Saturday of each month
March 9 & April 13, 5-8pm
Center Stage

Kings’ Shops at Waikoloa Beach Resort announces Arts Under the Stars, a new series of Free events that will take place on the second Saturday of each month. The public is invited to meet the artists of Kings’ Shops who will be showing their creations in an outdoor art walk. Numerous stores will be holding in-store events that include interactive games, sparkling wines with elegant pūpū, and countless special offers. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill will be selling their famous Szechuan Baby Back Ribs and Merriman’s Market Café will be selling Gelatos in a street fair fashion. Stroll under the stars to delicious aroma of good food and the sweet sounds of inspiring music. it will be an evening reminiscent of a warm Parisian night.

March/April 2013

The Amer Ari Invitational

The 23rd Annual Amer Ari intercollegiate golf tournament was held at Waikoloa Beach Resort’s Kings’ Course in February, with 20 of the top teams in the country participating. After three days of play, UCLA and the University of Washington tied for first place with team scores of 22-under par, with UCLA taking the title after one playoff hole. The defending champs, the Longhorns of the University of Texas, finished fourth.

The individual medalist was Dominic Bozzelli of Auburn, with a three-day total of 11-under-par. Past medalists in the tourney include some of today’s best-known PGA Tour stars, including Notah Begay (Stanford, 1994), Matt Kuchar (Georgia Tech, 1999 and 2000), and Anthony Kim (Oklahoma, 2004).

March/April 2013

Local Boy Makes Good

The Three Fat Pigs, a new restaurant under the direction of Chef Philip “Ippy” Aiona, who recently starred on Season 8 of Food Network Star, will be open at Kings’ Shops in March. A gastropub which promises patrons plenty of delicious, fine dining options like duck confit potpies or whisky-battered lobster, fish and chips, The Three Fat Pigs will also offer a charcuterie bar, with delicious cured meats, cheeses, and homemade jams. There will also be wide variety of craft beers on tap.

January/February 2013

Love is ♥ ♥ ♥

The Hawaiian vacation you always promised each other. And on Valentine’s Day, what could possibly be more romantic?

Write love letters in the sand, walk hand in hand along entrancing beaches or through tropical gardens, lined with beckoning palms. Splash and play in the ocean, wander to your heart’s delight and find your own private corner of Paradise.

Enjoy the allure of sweet steel guitars, ‘ukulele music and hula, and experience aloha in a fragrant flower lei. For a sentimental touch, explore the pleasures of couples’ massage in an oceanfront cabana or luxurious spa, breathe deeply in the magic of aromatherapy or treat each other to a day of beauty, leading up to an unforgettable evening.

Enhance the romance with the diamond of her dreams, selected from some of the best jewelers in the world, represented for you here at Waikoloa Beach Resort. Or, consider the perfect gemstone to match those angel eyes, the rare treasure of “chocolate” Tahitian pearls, the pure gold of an engraved Hawaiian bracelet. It’s not just shopping this time of year; it’s capturing Forever.

And if music be the food of love, play on in one of our melodious restaurants, made even more enticing for you and your Valentine. At Lava Lava Beach Club, the chef has created a special “Love is the Air” menu, starring steak, lobster, and a dessert called “Chocolate Love Triangle.” Of course you can choose from numerous options in cuisine and ambience at Waikoloa Beach Resort, from a private Japanese tea house, to white tablecloths and candlelight, or barefoot bliss—for the Big Question, or a little bit of eternity. Bon Appetit!

January/February 2013

Chicago Cranks it Up

A sense of electricity charged the air January 12th, as excited fans from all around the island filled Waikoloa Bowl to hear and cheer for the multi-platinum sounds of “Chicago” in concert. More than 3,000 people danced in the grass and sang out loud to one of Billboard’s Top 100 Bands of All Time, and the classic ballads that cross generations Made us Smile, Colored our World and kept the beat going until hardly Anybody Really Knew What Time It Was. Even more epic on the big stage under the stars, Chicago’s iconic horns and explosive performance called for three “hana hou’s” (encores), stirring up memories and merry-making that Waikoloa is still talking about.

January/February 2013

Chicago in Concert

Grammy Award-winners Chicago will perform in Waikoloa as part of their 2012- 2013 world tour. Chicago, one of America’s most dynamic, high-energy bands, has had an amazing 25 Top Forty singles and five consecutive #1 albums; they are among Billboard’s Top 100 artists of all time at #13. With 33 albums to their credit, Chicago is the first American band to chart Top 40 albums across five decades, with 25 of them certified platinum. Worldwide, their music has sold more than 100 million records. (No outside beverages, outside food, cans or bottles, coolers, or chairs of any kind.)General Admission tickets are priced at $65 and $49. On sale at Persimmon at Queens’ MarketPlace, or Ticketmaster outlets at Walmart in Hilo and Kona.

January/February 2013

Chef Takes the Helm at Lava Lava Beach Club

Since the first day, Jeff Readman stood apart as a culinary wizard who understood that food should be delicious, well-priced, and fun. Come in and try some of his new menu items! Together with Lava Lava’s corporate chef, Ken Schloss, Readman has created new menu items and updated renditions of some favorites from the menu. Lava Lava is also happy to provide beach chairs for anyone who buys a drink, lunch, or a pūpū. (Chairs are on a first-come, first-served basis.)

November/December 2012

Variety is the Spice of Life When Dining at Waikoloa

For the first-time visitor to the Hawaiian Islands, going to a lū‘au is a must. So much of Hawai`i’s traditional Polynesian culture, cuisine, dance, and song are packed into a lū‘au that it becomes a feast for all the senses and an exciting, eye- opening education at the same time. To that end, two of the very best lū‘au on Hawai`i Island are found at Waikoloa Beach Resort, the Legends of the Pacific Lū‘au at Hilton Waikoloa Village; and the Sunset Lū‘au at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

Both of these lū‘au shows are a treat for the entire family, with delicious food (think hulihuli chicken, fresh fish, shoyu marinated beef ribs, and the traditional imu kālua pig), thrilling fire dancing, and captivating songs and dances of the Pacific.

But the cuisine of the islands is far more varied than that. Reflecting the diversity of the peoples and cultures who have migrated to Hawai`i over the years, visitors are treated to authentic Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and other cuisines; as well as a very popular blending of local ingredients with traditional American preparations that is called Hawai`i Regional Cuisine.

Best of all is the fact that Waikoloa Beach Resort is a place where the very best of these many cuisines are found. In all, Waikoloa features close to 30 different dining options, from sit-down meals in scenic settings, to grab-and-go snacks and fast foods for busy schedules; from juicy burgers in the Kings’ Grille after a round of golf, to an aromatic cup of coffee during a morning stroll.

Some of Hawai`i’s best-known and well-established chefs have eateries at Waikoloa, including Roy Yamaguchi (Roy’sWaikoloa Bar & Grill), Peter Merriman (Merriman’s Market Café), and D.K. Kodama (Sansei Seafood, Steak & Sushi Bar). But just as exciting is a new Hawaiian barbecue joint that is opening under the direction of up-and-coming chef Philip “Ippy” Aiona, who recently starred on Season 8 of Food Network Star.

One ever-popular choice for lunch or dinner is Waikoloa Grill’n Bar (formerly known as Buzz’s Sand Trap). Co-owner Dickie Furtado offers diners lighter, healthier menu choices, side by side with timeless favorites such as steak and salad meals.

At the beachfront Lava Lava Beach Club you can get some sand between your toes and enjoy lunch or dinner prepared by the same folks who have been pleasing visitors and locals alike for many years at Kona’s renowned Huggo’s. Surrounded by swaying coconut trees and tropical trade winds, Lava Lava features fresh fish tacos and burgers as well as the Chef’s creative preparations of steak, Hawaiian seafood, and more.

And in addition to the popular lū‘au format, each of the two hotels at Waikoloa are known for the excellence of their culinary offerings. Hawaii Calls Restaurant & Lounge at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is a three-meal-a-day restaurant where patrons will find all their favorite foods from back home, plus prime rib and cracked crab buffets on Friday and Saturday evenings that leave no one wanting more.

Wherever you are at Waikoloa Beach Resort, you are certain to find culinary delights that will please your whole family. The only problem is choosing from so many tempting options!

November/December 2012

18th Annual Na Lima Hana Craft Fair

Saturday, Nov. 24 and Sunday, Nov.25, from 9am-4pm

Hilton Waikoloa Village Convention Center

Over 100 crafters from the Big Island will be on hand to showcase and sell their unique one-of-a-kind arts and crafts. You’ll find something for everyone on your holiday list, including Hawaiian quilts, wood carvings, holiday ornaments, jewelry, clothing and Kona coffee.